THE Christmas season is one of joy and giving, and that’s all there was at the Jamaica National Children´s Home on Friday, December 2 after a donation of $100,000 worth of items by Calabar High School and Campion College.

Calabar and Campion’s Interact clubs teamed up to source toiletries, educational items, clothing and food, among other items, to the home in Papine, St Andrew.

Kaionna Thomas, president of Campion’s Interact Club, told the Jamaica Observer that initially, the plan was to do a drive, but she and her team came upon some challenges.

“As a newly elected executive board we were unsure about how to coordinate and execute our activities. Thankfully, the Calabar Interact Club reached out to us and invited us to collaborate with them on a Christmas drive. We welcomed it with open arms. Truly, we were glad to have their companionship in it all,” she said.

“Now, to source the stationery items we had reached out to the larger Campion College community for donations. At first they were slow, but they picked up quickly as the deadline approached. I was astounded by their generosity as I observed the collection cubicle overflowing and donations being brought in even after the deadline. My greatest thanks goes out to all who donated and spread the word,” Thomas continued.

At Calabar, Carlton Bell, president of the Interact Club came up with the idea. Bell said he had asked the members of the club to donate items, but later decided to involve the wider school, as well as Campion.

“We wanted to receive a greater number of donations and have a much bigger impact on the Jamaica National Children’s Home. We received a surplus of donations from students, parents, teachers — and we were so grateful because these donations were going to help many children,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“Throughout the process of collection and donation we encountered many obstacles. At first there were very little donations being made, which was resolved towards the end of [the] collection period when a large amount of donations began to pour in. And on the day of donation numerous transportation issues arose but through these difficulties we excelled in our plan and we made it through because the day was not about us, but about the children, and nothing was going to prevent it from becoming a success.”

The Jamaica National Childre’s Home was started in 1972 by the National Children’s Home, UK to provide a loving, caring and stable home to orphans and abandoned children as well as children with severe mental or physical disabilities whose parents are unable to provide proper care.

Thomas told the Sunday Observer that the experience at the home was most pleasant, despite being unsure about what to expect at first.

“I am glad to say that we left feeling overjoyed. I was surprised by the dynamic that quickly developed between us, even though we had just met. I believed if we had not left earlier we would be tied at the hip. However, the interaction we had with the wards and the staff was unmatched; we felt welcomed as soon as we arrived at the facility,” she said.

“Although we were limited in our ability to understand and efficiently communicate with the wards, we cherished every moment spent with them. I have no doubt that this can be improved with further, more frequent engagement. We are truly honoured to have served them and we excitedly await further opportunities to assist.”

Meanwhile, Bell recalled being escorted to the Tegwyn Special Unit for children with severe mental or physical disabilities, which and is adjacent the main campus.

“We got the opportunity to entertain the children and present them with hand-made cards to spread love this Christmas, a holiday of warmth and love. One memorable and special moment for me was hearing a child shout ‘Thank you’. I remember feeling a warmth inside my heart knowing that we made that child happy,” he said.

“I would like to say thank you to our teachers, our collaborators, Campion College, and everyone who donated to make this project a big success.”