Wynlee continues to give

After more than eight years of giving to the firstborn child in some public hospitals, Wynlee Distributors is making plans to return to at least six of the institutions today to give away several thousand dollars worth of baby items.

"We will be at the Victoria Jubilee, Cornwall Regional, May Pen, Mandeville, Spanish Town and the University of the West Indies hospitals," Winsome Halliman, CEO of Wynlee, told The Gleaner.

Today, they will be giving three-month supplies of assorted baby items to the first born at each of these hospitals. Among the items are diapers and just about any goodies the babies might need. This is the first time they are going to May Pen, Mandeville and Cornwall Regional hospitals.

Halliman said the idea to recognise and assist firstborn children each year was conceived in 2001 shortly after she launched the company with her husband, well-known coach Leebert, who is currently in charged of the Excelsior High School football programme.

According to Halliman, the donations to the firstborn children are part of the company's mission to assist the persons who support it as much as possible.

Give back

"As corporate citizens, we are influenced by a need to give back to our community and the people who make us what we are," Halliman said.

"Even though we focus on the firstborn child at the hospital for each year, we also provide gifts to the mothers of other children born that morning and we continue to provide assistance to them for up to three months. Sometimes, we take our support up to a year."

The company also provides financial and material support for several other charities and persons in need. The charities include service clubs, high schools and an inner-city programme. Right now the company is in the process of re-painting the walls of the St Joseph's Hospital in eastern Kingston.

Wynlee Distributors is based in Kingston and sells health and personal care items, baby toiletries, food, beverages and household supplies.