Needy kids have a whale of a time
Children feted to lunch, games and goodie bags at Christmas outing
GEORGE TOWN: Smiles were etched on the faces of underprivileged children who enjoyed a pre-Christmas day out at Gurney Paragon Mall here yesterday.
They showered each other with “snow” inside a giant snow globe, rode on a carousel and whizzed down a large slide at the mall’s festive Emoji Activity Zone.
Their excitement was raised a notch when Santa Claus and Santarina made an appearance to give out sweets.
The group of 25 youngsters, aged five to 17, were from the Crystal Family Home (CFH) in Air Itam on Penang Island, and the House of Grace in Batu Kawan on the mainland.
CFH founder David Barnabas said it was a fun experience for the kids, who would otherwise be spending the school holidays at home.
“It’s good exposure for them. They can meet other people and learn new things. This is our first Christmas outing this year,” he said.
House of Grace chairman Michelle Loh concurred, saying it was a good opportunity for them to see the latest happenings in the world.
“Our home is located in a suburban area, and apart from school, the kids normally spend their time gardening or doing living skills projects. They’re a bit shy, but I’m sure they enjoyed the outing,” Loh added.
Following the playtime, the children were feted to lunch and games, and presented with bags of Christmas goodies.