Fontana Pharmacy’s Wishing Tree spreads Christmas joy

This Christmas, Fontana Pharmacy teamed up with Jamaican personality Tami Chin-Mitchell and social media influencer Toni-Ann Bedassie to bring joy to Mary’s Child, one of the beneficiaries of its Wishing Tree Programme. The initiative focuses on thoughtful gift-giving to brighten the holidays for teen moms and their children.

The project highlights the spirit of generosity as Chin-Mitchell and Bedassie, alongside Fontana’s marketing team, delivered gifts to the home, along with their own special contributions: Tami gifted the home with a $150,000.00 cheque from her MTM Foundation and Toni gifted the seven caretakers of Mary’s Child with special gift packages from Fontana.

A media release shared that the collaboration followed the success of the 2023 initiative when Chin-Mitchell joined Fontana Pharmacy in decorating a Christmas tree at its Waterloo location before delivering it to the Mary’s Child charity. The aunts at the home added their final touches, creating a collaborative and festive moment. This year, the focus shifted to the simple yet profound act of giving, with no tree decorations but an emphasis on meaningful contributions.

What Is the Wishing Tree Programme?

The Wishing Tree Initiative is Fontana Pharmacy’s annual effort to spread holiday cheer to children’s homes across Jamaica. Each of Fontana’s seven locations adopts a children’s home, placing a Wishing Tree in-store adorned with tags representing children. Customers are invited to pick a tag, purchase a gift, and enjoy a 20 per cent discount on the selected item. Fontana then collects these gifts and ensures that they are delivered to the children in time for Christmas.

The release noted further that Fontana’s marketing team, Chin-Mitchell, and Bedassie share a passion for giving back to the community. “During my recent visit to Mary’s Child, I was deeply moved by the resilience and determination of these young women. Homes like this play a critical role in offering not just shelter, but hope, education, and a path to a brighter future for both mother and child,” said Chin-Mitchell.

She added:”Supporting these spaces is an investment in their futures and a commitment to creating a stronger, more compassionate community. I encourage everyone to consider donating to facilities like this as every contribution helps to empower these young mothers to rebuild their lives and ensure their children thrive. Together, we can make a difference.”

Bedassie added, highlighting her excitement about being part of such a meaningful initiative: “Being a part of this Wishing Tree Initiative has made my heart so full! And just another reminder that it will ALWAYS feel better to give than to receive. You’ll have no idea the impact that you would’ve made on these lives.”

Through this collaboration, Fontana Pharmacy hopes to inspire others to give back and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.