Sister restaurants Rosa’s Cantina and Chopsticks have collected more than $14,000 for two children’s charities.

The money, which was raised through various initiatives since November, will be split equally between Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda and the Bermuda Foster Parent Association.

“I would like to thank everyone for coming on board and making Christmas special for the children in foster care, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda and the children in our community,” Lindsay Durham, the director of operations and human resources for both restaurants, told The Royal Gazette. “Together we can make a difference in a child’s life.”

Starting in November, the restaurants offered a special cocktail — the Winter Wonderland — with all proceeds being collected for the two charities.

It was the last of six initiatives to raise funds for good causes run by the restaurants last year.

“Gosling’s Limited and Butterfield and Vallis have really supported all our givebacks in 2016,” Ms Durham said. “Gosling’s donated liquor for our special cocktails. Butterfield and Vallis donated products so we could make special desserts.”

Ms Durham, who is also president of the Bermuda Foster Parent Association, also organised an “Angel Tree” in each restaurant.

Each angel represented a child in foster care or with BBBS and the public were able to buy gifts for the children or donate money towards a gift.

Ms Durham described the response as “phenomenal”, adding: “The community rallied around us. It was amazing to see how many people wanted to help.

“Bermuda really has a lot of caring and giving people. No child was left behind.”

Renaissance Reinsurance and DanceSations came in at the last minute to make sure every child received a gift by taking the remaining angels, she said.

The gifts were handed out at a special party and the fundraiser culminated with the Winter Wonderland: the Big Give Back event on Front Street.

Open to the public and free for children, the event on December 18 was so successful that Ms Durham said they are looking to make it an annual event.

Vendors offered popcorn, cotton candy, henna, face painting, fun castles and train rides. Supermart helped sponsor the event, and Barritt’s, Dunkley’s Dairy and BGA “made the experience extra special by coming out and making sure that everyone had a drink and snacks throughout the event”.

Ms Durham said: “We were able to have the Winter Wonderland: the Big Give Back because Amlin Bermuda came forward and donated $10,000. We could not have made this possible without Amlin’s support.”

She also thanked Stacey deShield and Bruce Tucker, who made a $1,000 donation to the Winter Wonderland, as well as DJ iBreeze and Power Girl [BBBS director Patrina O’Connor-Paynter] who hosted the event, and The Supermart for “their generous donation”.