The spirit of giving was alive and well on Christmas Eve, as Queen Esther’s Ministries Trinidad and Tobago hosted its largest Christmas drive to date.
Scores of people turned up from across the country to receive hampers, toys, and treat bags as part of the Queen Esther’s ministries annual outreach.
The founder Esther Ramkissoon, touched by her own childhood experience of going without, said this is what keeps her inspired to continue giving back.
“I know what it means not to have. I also know what it means to be homeless. I know what it means to be fatherless. I know what it means to come from an abusive home. I know what it means to be a child and see other children receiving toys and snacks and having a meal on their table for Christmas and I don’t have. Because of that, the Lord literally puts the drive in my heart and the push that’s needed to keep doing what we do.”
She said this year saw a huge turn out.
“We have people from San juan, from Arima, from Belmont, from Port of Spain. from Penal, Barackpore, Point Fortin, you name it. People come from communities all over Trinidad. People are using the bus, taking taxis, asking their neighbor for a ride, and they’re bringing the children as well, because some families say that this is the only toy that their children will receive for Christmas.”
Ms. Ramkissoon said even though sponsorship was limited this year, the organization was still able to distribute more than previous years.
“So this year we did 100 hampers and each hamper is valued at a retail cost of 600 TT. We also did 300 toys and treat bags. But we did a little extra for children who may have passed by and seen the Christmas tree taking place. So that way, if they popped in, we were still able to give them something.”
2025 marks the 7th year of the Annual Christmas Drive hosted by Queen Esther’s Ministries.