Amidst ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa’s devastation, the Sandals Foundation orchestrated a special holiday celebration for approximately 400 children in Whitehouse, Westmoreland. The event transformed the Sandals South Coast football field into a winter wonderland where Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and a team of vibrant elves brought seasonal magic to young survivors.
Children from four local educational institutions—Culloden Infant School, Kings Primary School, Petersville Primary School, and Whitehouse Early Childhood Institute—participated in an array of festive activities including musical entertainment, artistic workshops, storytelling sessions, craft creation, and recreational games. The foundation provided delicious treats and distributed toys donated by prominent North American companies including Spin Master, Jazwares, and The Toy Foundation.
In a significant psychosocial support initiative, Sesame Workshop characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby engaged children in emotional processing activities. These specially designed interventions helped children express complex feelings in the aftermath of the hurricane, with families receiving customized workbooks to support ongoing coping and emotional healing.
Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, emphasized the importance of maintaining childhood normalcy during recovery: ‘While families in Whitehouse have endured tremendous hardship, we believe nothing should diminish the holiday season’s magic. Our focus remains on ensuring children feel supported, safe, and uplifted throughout the recovery process.’
The event represents one component of a broader Caribbean-wide initiative distributing 45,000 toys across the region. In Jamaica specifically, the foundation will distribute 18,000 toys through partnerships with Food For the Poor, Rainforest Foundation, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, targeting communities most affected by October’s hurricane.
Mark Khouri, Executive Vice-President of Food For the Poor, confirmed his organization would facilitate distribution of 4,000 toys across Hanover, Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and St James parishes, focusing on families who suffered significant losses.
Since Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28, the Sandals Foundation has coordinated with local and international partners to provide essential support including shelter, food, clean water, and medical assistance. The organization has additionally worked to maintain hospital functionality and support economic recovery for fishers and small business operators.
Looking toward long-term recovery, the foundation has committed to rebuilding and renovating damaged schools in coming months to restore educational normalcy for Jamaican children.