A lot of words can be associated with the holidays, but family will always be a top choice. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana came together for its sixth annual Christmas to Remember event to provide the kids with a sense of family and holiday fun. More than 500 gathered at “Santa’s Workshop” on Thursday, December 7. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana President and CEO Mike Jessen could not be more excited to provide some holiday joy for its members.
“Christmas should be a wonderful time of year, but it's not always that way for all families and kids,” said Jessen. “It's wonderful to have the opportunity to provide some additional cheer and joy for these kids while maybe lightening the load on their families a bit. We couldn't be more excited to do it.”
50 children from each of the ten Clubs arrived on buses from the Clubs. When the kids got off the buses, they could go to one of the many stations set up around the building. These stations are where they get to open presents, meet Santa, write thank you cards, and eat all of the delicious treats.
The gifts they received were hand selected from a Dear Santa letter they wrote in the fall. Gifts like skateboards, coats, and footballs were opened with the kids excitedly showing their friends and volunteers. All of this was made possible by the support of organizations and companies like Centier Bank, the presenting sponsor.
“It is phenomenally heartwarming,” said Jessen. “I get chills thinking about the outpouring of support that we get because, without all that support, there's no way in the world that an event of this magnitude would be possible.”
With roughly 200 volunteers at the event, support was immense outside of just funding the event. Partners used the opportunity to support a great cause while using it as a team-building exercise. Groups of volunteers helped shop and wrap the gifts. Volunteers also manned each station.
“We feed the kids, they get pizza, cookies, and juice,” said Tiffani Davis, board member of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana. “There's a letter-writing station thanking Santa for their gifts, and then they get to open the gifts. It's an amazing, well-rounded event that anyone who gets to attend whether they are a person shopping for gifts or someone volunteering their time, walks away transformed in a delightful way.”
One group of volunteers in particular was a member of the Valparaiso University football team. For Sam Hafner, he says that the feeling that he gets while volunteering is one of the best feelings one can have.
“I know that with volunteering sometimes people think it's extra work,” said Hafner. “Today's my birthday but I'm still here. It's something really special to me that I wouldn't miss for anything. You have to be here to experience it, but I think it's one of the best feelings you can have.”
With the support of members of the Valparaiso University football team, Centier Bank, Meijer, Werner Christmas Wonderland, and countless others, the event can touch many kids in the region. Thursday’s event was a wonderful and joyful event for all who participated. Kids got their Christmas wishes filled, and volunteers got the experience of a lifetime. Yet not to be overlooked is that all ten Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana Clubs provide the same love and care to the kids every day.
“Each and every day, we've got caring, compassionate employees who are working with the children, working with their families, and developing a relationship with them,” said Jessen. “Those children know that they're safe at our Clubs, and they know they have that extended family member support. This is a type of thing that goes on day in and day out between our staff and the kids at the Club.”
For more information on Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, please visit their website at bgcgreaternwi.org
