Christmas came early for many in the community last night as groups of students played Santa to nearly 50 children.
The Student Activities Council partnered with the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse to host its annual Christmas party. Each year, student organizations and friends come together to sponsor children who come from abusive homes.
“It presents the Union community with an incredible opportunity to work together to give back to the greater Jackson community,” said Reeves Garrett, junior biblical studies major. “Children suffering from child abuse receive a Christmas they would never have otherwise.”
Garrett and the rest of the planning committee spent months preparing for the event. SAC members were in constant communication with the Carl Perkins staff to solidify the details. The group of kids who attended ranged from age 3 up to high school students.
Committee member Jessica Vinyard, junior mathematics major, spent time recruiting and organizing sponsors from Union’s campus. Those who volunteered were given wish lists and a suggested budget of $60-80 for each child.
“It was so fun and exciting each time I would get a sponsor because I knew that was one more child that would get to have Christmas,” Vinyard said. “It truly was a night that these children will remember for years to come.”
Presents were dropped off before the children arrived, and they were greeted with friendly faces of students who took them to dinner in Brewer Dining Hall. Once they finished eating, participants followed a trail of gingerbread men into the Bowld Student Commons, where a winter wonderland was waiting for them.
Children were then able to open the gifts, make festive crafts and enjoy snacks, including a birthday cake for Jesus. Toward the end of the event, children squealed in excitement as Santa Claus came in to greet them.
“Seeing the children with their sponsors unwrapping their presents and just having a blast was absolute proof that all the work we put into this event was worth every second,” Vinyard said.
To wrap up the night, Garrett was able to explain to the children why their sponsors cared for them enough to shower them with presents, and he presented the Christmas story from the gospel.
”It is exciting to see Christ displayed to these kids,” he said. “Many of them simply lack hope because of their terrible circumstances, but through the graciousness and love of our sponsors and the party itself, we have an opportunity to share the gospel and the hope and love it brings with some awesome kids.”
