Dec. 26, 2008 — The spirit of giving means a lot to St. Croix residents during the Christmas season, and to Mathilde Wilson, co-owner of Mount Victory Camp. She said attendance at the camp's annual Boxing Day celebration was about 400, almost double that of previous years.
"At Christmastime many people have responded to the need," said Wilson at the Friday afternoon party. "This time the opportunity to give has attracted a lot more people."
Because an anonymous donor is offering the use of a plane to fly supplies to the impoverished nation, Wilson and her husband, Bruce Wilson, used the season opening of their camp to get donations to fill the plane. Residents have responded.
"People have been really generous," said Mandy Thody, volunteer for Hait Community Support, the non-profit group founded by the Wilsons. Thody said HCS had five containers of kids' clothes and shoes by 3 p.m. plus two containers of health care products.
St. Croix residents arriving at the rain forest party continued filling up large rubberized containers with tooth paste, tooth brushes, mulit-vitamins, antibacterial soap and over-the-counter medicines. Thody said the plane could take 10 containers each trip and it would go to Haiti twice.
This year was a particularly bad one for Haiti as it was hit by hurricanes Faye, Gustav, Hannah and Ike, one right after another.
The scent of pork roasted to perfection over a wood fire blew up the hill behind the jungle bar. On surrounding hills, people of all ages were siting on blankets, picnic tables and folding canvas chairs, eating and listening to old-time Crucian music.
People were bouncing as soon as Jamsie and the All Stars started to play, while waiting in the food line for pork, seasoned rice and vegetables. There was dancing under the mango tree, just as Bruce Wilson hoped there would be.
"It is nice to have cultural music here," said resident Zoraida Jacobs. "And the community support is nice."
Recently arrived residents Greg and Sue Nelson, who were off to another engagement, said they loved the event and hated to leave.
"Next year we are bringing the whole family," said Greg Nelson.
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