Challenged children meet Santa
As the children finished singing “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” their eyes began to light up as the man of the hour, Santa Claus, entered the room and waved to the enthralled children. Santa took time from his busy Christmas schedule to pay a visit to more than 60 children Tuesday at AMVETS Post 103 in Hopwood as part of the annual Christmas celebration for disabled children hosted by the AMVETS ladies auxiliary.
For more than 25 years, the auxiliary has hosted the holiday party for children with mental and physical challenges in the Fayette County area.
This year, five schools attended the event, so their students could share in fellowship and fun during the holiday season. Participating schools were Colonial School, part of Intermediate Unit 1; Menallen School and Lafayette School in the Uniontown Area School District; and Hutchinson Elementary School and Laurel Highlands Middle School in the Laurel Highlands School District.
“I am glad we could do something for the children,” said Charolette Sutton, second vice president of the auxiliary and coordinator for the event. “It just makes you so happy when you see their faces light up.”
The children played carnival games, participated in arts and crafts, danced in groups to music played by a disc jockey and visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“This (the party) makes my holiday,” said Cathy Stefancin, owner of Imaginary Friends, a family entertainment company in Hopwood that supplied the entertainment for the event. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
In addition to games and entertainment, the party provided an opportunity for the students to reconnect with each other.
“They know other kids and other staff from other schools through the summer school program, and they get to see them here,” said Jeff Smith, a student aide at Hutchinson Elementary School. “They really enjoy and look forward to it (the party).”
Following the opportunity to meet and greet Santa, the children ate lunch and treats prepared by the auxiliary and its volunteers.
“The ladies that put it (the party) together don’t get enough credit,” said Stefancin.
After the women’s hard work is finished, the last game is packed away and Santa has driven off in his sleigh, it is the memories that the children made at the party that brings fulfillment to their day.
“It makes their holiday,” said Stefancin. “This is the real meaning of Christmas.”