Children’s Christmas Party

One of our most meaningful and fun projects is the annual Kiwanis Children’s Christmas party we host for needy children. Every October our members put together a list of schools with the largest percentage of underprivileged children to send invitations for the party.

We ask the schools to choose four deserving kids that to come to the party, and provide information about the children so our members can be “Santa Claus” and give presents to the kids. Our members volunteer to sponsor a child and fulfill their gift wish; some may even surprise a child with an additional gift. Many of these children do not receive any Christmas gifts except the ones they get at the Kiwanis Christmas Party.

At the party, the children enjoy lunch with their sponsor and sing Christmas carols before a special guest arrives—Santa Claus! Our members serve as Santa’s helpers, distributing the children’s gifts. Kids receive their requested gifts, as well as clothing, a bible, a new $5 bill, and fruit and candy in a “goodie bag.”

There’s a lot involved in the planning for the party: shopping, wrapping, promoting and setting up the event, but the rewards come with big smiles, as our members are big heroes for the day.