The Lawrence Tavern Police Station in west rural St Andrew was transformed into a children's playground on Sunday as the police youth club's annual Christmas treat was held in fine style.

Excitement filled the air as more than 500 noisy and excited children, many accompanied by parents and guardians, took over the station grounds and were fêted to fine food, gifts from Santa and back-to-school supplies courtesy of the businesses in and around the Lawrence Tavern area.

Giving back

Now in its fifth year, Sunday's treat lived up to the motto of the Lawrence Tavern Police Youth Club: 'Helping to build a better Jamaica'.

This matter is of utmost impor-tance to Constable Laurrie O'Gilvie, founder and president of the youth club. He said it was a way of giving something back to the various communities that surround the police station.

O'Gilvie described Sunday's treat as "an overwhelming success" in terms of the turnout. "The people really appreciate the efforts of the youth club and that gives us the drive to continue," he said.

Interaction great

Children came all the way from Glengoffe, King Weston, Border, Unity, Belmont, Luanafield, Mount Ogle, Rosehall, Duncaster and other communities surrounding Lawrence Tavern.

Apart from the music, the food and the gifts, O'Gilvie noted that it was good for the children to interact with the police. That interaction was quite obvious on Sunday as the police themselves joined in by serving food, handing out gifts and ensuring that everyone who attended was safe. They also took time out of their busy schedule just to talk with the children.

From early afternoon, the police station, situated in the town square, was transformed into a playground with a bounceabout, merry-go-round and other rides. The children turned out early, decked in their finest, an indication that this annual treat is something they all looked forward to.

Said a mother of three: "This is something I could not afford to miss. I was unable to take my children anywhere this Christmas because of the state of the economy. I thank the Lawrence Tavern Police Youth Club and the officers who did this for us," she said as she got emotional.

Clowning around

The clown was a big favourite with the children as he had them laughing all day and into the night. While some were too timid, others allowed him to paint their faces and hands with images of different animal characters.

A talent concert, where young and upcoming entertainers got a chance to showcase their talent, closed off the evening segment It was the time for the singers, dancers and DJs to show off their stuff and they had the crowd rocking into the night, long after the children had left.

Sunday's treat was a time for laughter, sharing, caring and for the hundreds of children, a time they most definitely felt wanted.

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