Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

More than 600 children from the communities around Spanish Town Road were given gifts and had loads of fun at a treat organised by Wray & Nephew in collaboration with THE STAR at the drink company's headquarters in Kingston yesterday.

In the bright afternoon sun the children, no older than about six years old, ran around and partook in the rides and bounceabouts. The children came from early childhood institutions like Deliverance Centre, End Time, Penwood Basic, Anil, Seaview Gardens NT, Seaview Gardens Early Childhood, Marie Atkins and Elite Basic School.

Easily distracted and very active at that age, it took some time for the teachers, clowns and staff at Wray & Nephew to get the children settled for the first performance from Ikaya. She sang songs like Happy And You Know It and Jingle Bells, while the children held onto her as she walked around on the grass. She briskly ended with Hard Way.

Former Rising Stars winner, Shuga, followed with much of the same children-oriented songs. She also did a rendition of Said I Loved You and encouraged the children to hug her. This eventually led to Shuga and some of the children falling.

Continuing with the festivities, Santa Claus ditched his sleigh and appeared on the back of a pickup van bearing gifts. Along with Shuga, Ikaya and the Wray & Nephew staff, he gave gifts to the children.

Speaking with THE STAR, Greta Bogues, general manager for the company's Corporate Affairs Division, explained that this is their fifth year hosting the event.

"We think it is very important to give back, especially to those communities that surround our operations and especially at this time of the year, which is really the time of year when children really look forward to getting a gift for Christmas," she said, noting that the event has been fantastic.

"As part of our overall social responsibility, we should be a part of that. But it is not just us, it is getting our staff members to come out and to fellowship and to work and have fun with the children also."