LUCEA, Hanover — Four months ahead of the slated opening of Princess Hotel in Green Island, Hanover, it has hosted its first-ever Christmas treat for patients of Noel Holmes Hospital’s paediatric department, spending $200,000 to bring holiday cheer to the grateful children.

“The majority of our staff [now being recruited] are coming from in and around the Lucea area. We know that whatever happens, more than likely, that is the hospital that they’re going to go to. We want to know that we are helping them, supporting them — whether financially or whatever we can give to [the hospital] – because we know that when we need them, they’re going to be there for us as well,” said the hotel’s Executive Administrative Manager Jade McLaren.

Princess is slated to open its doors to guests on April 2, 2024. The hope is that last Friday’s event will not be the last treat for the hospital.

“It is our goal to make it a yearly event where we can bring out our staff and give back to the community,” said McLaren.

The hotel’s General Manager Enrico Pezzoli and about 40 of his staff handed out gifts to more than 25 patients of the paediatric ward and children of hospital staff. Christmas cake and sorrel was provided for hospital employees.

“We weren’t expecting to have kids from the nurses that are working there but thankfully, we had enough gifts so that we could not only give the kids on the ward but also the kids of the staff who work at the hospital,” McLaren told the Jamaica Observer.

“We had a nice little event where they were able to interact with Santa Claus and Mrs Claus,” she added.

Chief executive officer (CEO) of Hanover Health Services, Roan Grant said the treat was well received.

“I think it was Maya Angelou who said, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel’. Just by them showing up — even if they had never given a gift, just by coming and saying blessed holidays, the way they dress and the way they seem united — it was a heartfelt moment that lifted a lot of persons’ spirits. It raised a lot of excitement, even if they never gave a gift. The gift was just kind of like the icing on the cake for the children of the staff, as well as for the children on the ward,” Grant told the Observer.

Deputy mayor of Lucea, Andria Dehaney Grant was also on hand to help spread good cheer.

“Considering that Princess Hotel thought about the persons who are in the hospital that’s a really good thing because that person in the hospital at this time will not be able to enjoy Christmas as much as other persons outside,” she said. “I saw smiles on the faces of the persons who were actually in hospital when they received those gifts. It was well received.”