Janet Richards, Usain Bolt foundations bring Christmas cheer to Mustard Seed
Published:Saturday | December 24, 2022 | 1:15 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
SUNSHINY SKIES on Wednesday, December 21, served as a metaphor of the joyful glow in the hearts of the young residents of the Mustard Seed Children’s Home in Adelphi, St James, as the Janet Richards Foundation held its annual Christmas treat at the facility.
In her latest outreach effort for disabled and at-risk children in St James since she started in 2008, Richards treated the children to food items and toys, with the support of the Usain Bolt Foundation.
“It is indeed a pleasure to be here today, and I could not be anywhere else but here, because you are here and I want you to have a very good Christmas, and I want to start it from now. I got up from 3:00 this morning (Wednesday), and I did everything and ensured that everything was here to ensure that you have a great time,” Richards said in a brief address to the young residents.
Throughout the day’s activities, the 31 wards and 32 members of staff kept up an energetic pace as they interacted with the members of both foundations, met with Santa Claus, and sang and danced to renditions of traditional Christmas hymns such as Joy to the World and O Come, All Ye Faithful. Saxophonist Fitzroy Minott also provided entertainment.
In addition to a scrumptious fare of fish, chicken, ham, shrimp, macaroni and cheese, gungo peas and rice, vegetable salad, juices, Christmas cake, ice cream, and popsicles, the residents also received toiletries and staff members were gifted a lounge chair.
Even with the COVID-19 restrictions of the past two years, Richards was still able to maintain the foundation’s outreach activities under strict guidelines.
“I have been doing the treat [even] during COVID and I have not missed a year. The management of the Usain Bolt Foundation has agreed that while I am willing to do the project, they will commit to it every year and they’ll give full sponsorship to that event,” Richards told The Gleaner following the treat. “As long as I am willing to do it, they will sponsor the money for it.”
The treat is one of Richards’ long-time philanthropic projects in support of children in St James and her native Hanover, for which she received the Prime Minister’s Award in 2018.
A former banker, Richards has also held an annual back-to-school treat in Kendal, Hanover, and has supported the wards at the Melody Girls’ Home in Irwin, St James, over the years.