Mrs Baltimore (centre) is presented with her Mother’s Day gift. Right is President of the Sea Cows Bay Basket-ball Club, Mr Milton C. McLean. Photo: Provided

Mrs Ruth Barry (right) receives her Mother’s Day basket from a member of the Gifted Hands Programme. Photo: Provided

A senior mom receives a Mother’s Day gift as part of the Gifted Hands Programme in the Sea Cows Bay community. Photo: Provided

A senior mom receives a Mother’s Day gift as part of the Gifted Hands Programme in the Sea Cows Bay community. Photo: Provided

A senior mom receives a Mother’s Day gift as part of the Gifted Hands Programme in the Sea Cows Bay community. Photo: Provided

The Gifted Hands Programme was a collaborative effort between the Sea Cows Bay Basketball Club (SCBBC) and the Honourable Julian Fraser RA, Third District Representative.

The seniors were grateful for this gesture and expressed their heartfelt thanks.  A journey that should have taken two (2) hours to complete took much longer as it became a time of fellowship for both the distributors and receivers of the baskets. Parents, members of the SCBBC and friends of Gifted Hands were also glad for the opportunity to bond with each other as well as with the lovely senior ladies who shared lifetime experiences and encouragement.

The care baskets were sponsored by businesses in the Third District as well as friends of the Gifted Hands Programme Giving Circle such as, Santa's Bakery and Restaurant, Kids At Heart, Sea Cows Bay Basketball Club, Mc Lean Tours/Friendliest Driver, Life Changing Ministries, Reaching Out Foundation, Kayron Todman, Chezley L. D. Stoddard, Julian Willock, Clifton Forbes and the Honourable Julian Fraser.

The Gifted Hands Programme provides volunteers with the opportunity to serve the Community by helping to empower and encourage the youths to use their “gifted hands” to provide outreach assistance to residents throughout the Third District.

The vision

According to a press release, the vision is that as a result of this programme young people will be able to forge new friendships by interacting with the seniors and other community members, acquire new life skills and build self-esteem.

“Gifted Hands will need the assistance of many patrons to achieve its goal and the SCBBC will be relying on the generosity of the Third District Community to make the Programme successful while enriching the lives of its volunteers. This year's theme is We Are Our Brother's Keeper.”

Upcoming activities

The next activity under the Programme is slated for Father's Day, Sunday, June 18, 2017 where at least 20 senior men will be provided lunch and a care basket.

A Reading is Fun activity is also scheduled to be held one day for a couple of hours during the four (4) weekends in the month of June. Children throughout the Territory will be invited to reading sessions under the theme ‘Every Hero Has A Story’.

Community workers from the Third District will be in attendance to share their stories as to why they took on such a job, and a story will be read to the children at the end of each session. The event will culminate with a free Fun Day Fair for children who attended at least three (3) of the four (4) reading sessions.

As an incentive, they will be provided with Gifted Hands tokens to play games, participate in a treasure hunt as well as purchase food and slightly used books from a mini book fair. For a small fee, the Fair will also be open to children who did not attend the reading sessions.

Persons wishing to learn more about the Gifted Hands Programme may call Mr Milton C. Mc Lean, President of the Sea Cow's Bay Basketball Club at 542-5555 or the District Representative, Honourable Julian Fraser RA.