Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

Christmas joy was given to a number of children from the Cyril Ross Nursery when they were gifted with new shoes courtesy the 8th annual Payless ShoeSource’s Shoes4 Kids initiative this Friday. The Home, along with other homes and orphanages across T&T that are most in need, were presented with coupons for 400 pairs of shoes.

The Prime Minister’s wife, Sharon Rowley, was on hand to assist with the measuring of shoe sizes and the choosing of shoes by the score of children present at Payless ShoeSource in the Falls at Westmall.
Payless ShoeSource Country Manager, Jerus Mohammed welcomed Mrs. Rowley as well as celebrity guests Wendy Fitzwilliam of the Hibiscus Foundation, Peter Elias and Chris Garcia. Mohammed said it was an honour for Payless ShoeSource to be part of such a meaningful and fulfilling year-end celebration, as Shoes4Kids was a Payless initiative that happened this week simultaneously throughout 12 Caribbean and Latin American countries. “We hold this program very close to our heart here at Payless, and like the Children, we too look forward to it every year. It is our gift to thousands of children throughout the region who may not necessarily know the joy of shopping for or receiving new shoes. This annual program allows us the opportunity to put smiles on so many faces and shoes on so many feet this Christmas.”
Mrs. Rowley said she chose to be a part of the occasion because she firmly believes the children of T&T are the future of T&T. “I am firmly for anything that can improve their lives and make them happy, particularly at this time of the year. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister and I hosted at the residences a number of orphanages and also children with special needs. It was a most exhilarating experience to have all these children come by and they were so happy. They sat between Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and the Prime Minister and myself and this was their day. They were totally in awe and I was in awe with them, so it is such a pleasure to be here today.”
Fitzwilliam thanked those from St. Vincent de Paul who took on the Cyril Ross Home when it was wildly unpopular to do so. She also thanked Payless for the initiative. “Shopping can come across as frivolous and it is, but retail therapy, as we all know, really lifts our spirits and allows us to forget or put aside for a minute, some of life’s challenges. This has always been a really special treat for not only the kids of the Cyril Ross Nursery but for those of us who get to participate with them. Often with organizations like Cyril Ross, we focus on the ‘needs’, and sometimes it’s really OK to focus on the ‘wants’, the more frivolous things, because that allows the kids to dream bigger, as very very little things often make a huge difference.”
Garcia, who also serenaded the children with Feliz Navidad and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, said “I wish there could be more of the events across the country. When I look at things like this, it brings tears to my eyes. Congratulations to all those who got together to put this together.”
One of the children from the Nursery expressed “our heartfelt appreciation to the Payless organization for the gift of footwear to the residents of the Nursery and children in care at other homes. We are aware that corporate organizations are under no obligation to us, but we recognize and are grateful for their willingness to share of their gains with us. On behalf of my sisters and brothers, other staff members of the Cyril Ross Family and the wider St. Vincent De Paul Society, I wish to convey our heartfelt thanks to the Payless organization for their generous gesture to us.”
Manager of the Cyril Ross Nursery, Madonna Stewart-Morris, said, “It is the most wonderful time of the year for the Children at the Home and for all the other children across Trinidad and Tobago who receive new shoes from this initiative. But Shoes4Kids is much more than receiving shoes at Christmas. The children look forward to the warmth and that very special feeling of appreciation they get from the Payless management and staff who take the time to shop with, have lunch and take them to the movies. It is not very often that corporate citizens go to this length to make our children happy and we really are very grateful for this.”
The Home houses 38 children and is responsible for the medical management of 30 other children living with their parents or guardians in different parts of the country. The Nursery’s aim is to achieve the holistic development of its children by providing for their physical, emotional, educational, spiritual and social needs.