Sunrisers Spread Holiday Cheer!

On Friday, December 17th, Rotary Sunrise members were in full force assisting CODAC (Community Development Action Committee) in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services with the annual Christmas Party for those people less fortunate in the Cayman Islands.

Previously the Government would hold Christmas parties in each separate community like Scranton, Windsor Park, Swamp and Dog City. However this year, because of Government funding cut backs, the organizing committee decided to have one combined party inviting all areas to congregate in the George Town Primacy School Hall.  The event started at 4:30pm with a prayer and was quickly followed by Christmas songs, dances and skits. The Honorable Mike Adam, Minister of Community Affairs and Housing  stopped by to welcome the families. The majority of the attendees were children. They enjoyed receiving gift bags from Santa along with some special little toys.
 
There were seventeen Rotarians that volunteered all the way from the President, to long-standing members to newly inducted (Niko Whittaker) to young future Rotarians (Anthony Catalanotto and Tyler Lawson).  Rotarians were assigned to kitchen and drinks and ice detail; a number of them served a delicious meal of turkey and ham along with all the fixings.  The event was held from 5-7pm and there were approximately 190 people that attended.

The organizers will now evaluate the success of a large combined Community Christmas as opposed to individual community Christmas parties.

Rotary Sunrise donated CI $1,500 towards this event and Joanne Rutty--through her contacts at Dart--came up at the last minute with a further donation of CI $250.