Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Flint Hills is asking for some fast help from the community to make sure its children receive Christmas gifts this year.
Executive director Melissa Davis said she just received word on Monday that the organization would not receive gifts from Operation Santa Claus for this year’s Big Brothers Big Sisters holiday party on Dec. 13 at First United Methodist Church.
Operation Santa Claus is organized specifically to collect gifts for children of military families, but Big Brothers Big Sisters has also received gifts from the program in past years.
“But with the increase in military families due to, I’m assuming, the war in Iraq, with all the people going overseas, they’ve had an increase in the need for the families that are involved in the military,” Davis said. “Which is very understandable. I can understand that that’s what their main cause is, to provide gifts for military families.”
The same thing happened last year, too. But Big Brothers Big Sisters had gifts left over from the year before, and a local sorority chipped in to donate more, so a gift shortage was averted.
This time, Davis hopes the community can pitch in for the estimated 50 to 60 children from ages 1-17 who will be at the party. Both gifts and monetary contributions to buy gifts will be accepted. Gifts must be new.
Those wishing to donate may stop by the Big Brothers Big Sisters office at 1512 W. 6th, Suite F, during office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monetary donations can also be mailed to that address, and donation forms can be downloaded at www.bbbsfh.org.
Davis said the annual Christmas party, which includes family members, volunteers and Santa himself stopping by to present the gifts, ranks as the kids’ favorite activity of the year.
“We have our bowling activity, back to school picnic, hayrack ride. But the holiday party seems to bring the most people, and the kids are always very excited to see Santa Claus,” she said. “It’s just a fun atmosphere and everybody has a good time.”
With Operation Santa Claus not being able to provide for Big Brothers Big Sisters the past two years, Davis said she has already started to look into other options to collect gifts next year.
“Hopefully, we can do some kind of toy drive or something earlier in the year where we don’t have to get down to the wire, like we are right now,” she said.