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Sukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
Children from Midlands Children’s Home in Gweru got a rare Christmas treat when Innscor’s fast food division, Chicken Inn, hosted them on Christmas Day. It was a rare and fun day for the 60 children at the home as the Chicken Inn management and staff spent the whole day with the children, as they placed orders of their choice with the food outlet. The fast food division also donated groceries to the children’s home worth over $1 000.

In an interview at the home, Chicken Inn Gweru operations manager, Mr Philip Kaiyo said the gesture was part of the company’s social responsibility programmes, as they celebrated 30 years in business. He said they decided to celebrate the day with the less privileged children who did not afford to buy their favourite dishes and food due to various reasons.

“Chicken Inn is celebrating 30 years in business and we saw it fit to share the joy with the children at this home,” said Kaiyo. “We know they come from different and unsavoury backgrounds, but here they are a family with their care givers being their parents.

“They are also part of our family as Chicken Inn. At one point these people who have turned parents to these children want to spoil their kids, but with the numbers here they fail to do so due to financial constraints.”

Mr Kaiyo said Chicken Inn had grown of age and had intensified its social responsibility programmes as a way of giving back to the community.

“We have become a household brand and we making efforts to plough back to the community which has helped us grow,” he said. “Today we are here at the children’s home to give and spend time with them. These children are part of the community which supports us, so we have said as we celebrate 30 years why can’t we celebrate together with these children.”

Mr Kaiyo said Chicken Inn partnered local authorities like Gweru City Council on clean up campaigns.

“We have erected banners which promote cleanliness in our city,” he said. “As a food division, we package our food, so we advise our clients and customers to dispose them responsibly. These are some of the campaigns we are doing as we are celebrating 30 years in business.”

Speaking at the same function, Midlands Children’s Home senior matron, Ms Lensani Kamwendo applauded Chicken Inn for the gesture. She said they had become parents to the children at the home and at times failed to satisfy their own offspring’s needs.

“They also want to be treated nicely and at times bought food of their choice, but we fail to do that,” she said. “We thank Chicken Inn management for deciding to throw a rare kind of a Christmas party for our children.”