Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
A little girl is fascinated by the face painting job 'Clowny' is giving her friend during the Washington Gardens Seventh-day Adventist Church's annual treat, held in the St. Andrew community on Thursday.

'Christmas' came a few weeks late for several children of Headley Avenue, off Molynes Road.

Some 80 youngsters turned out in their Sunday best on Thursday afternoon to enjoy the bouncing castle, face painting and 'goodies' provided by the Family Life Department of the Washington Gardens Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church.

However, despite the children's insistence that they were coming out to a Christmas treat, church representative Ken Nelson told The Gleaner that the function was more of a community outreach programme.

Mr. Nelson said that, though the SDA church does not officially celebrate Christmas, the church recognises that it is the festive season and a time for children.

"Every year we organise two annual treats for the children who live in and around the community," he said. "It's just for their entertainment and encouragement and for the church to form a relationship with their families."

He said it was a common practice to record the contact details of all the children who attend, so that the church community can maintain a working relationship with them and their parents.

"It doesn't just end here today. We try to visit with them and to provide them with counselling and any other kind of assistance we can give," he said.