With the season of giving around the corner, extracurricular clubs and groups at Warren are ready to show some holiday cheer at Warren’s annual Children's Christmas Party on Dec. 13.
Every year in Warren Central, most clubs and groups are assigned to sponsor a child from one of the many elementary schools in Warren Township. The high school sponsors receive their Christmas Child’s gift wish list ahead of time, and many students and teachers donate money to buy gifts that the children can open at the party.
“For parents, I think Christmas when you can't give your child the world hurts,” National Honor Society faculty sponsor Bret Tirey said. “I know in my own family that when times were lean, my parents gave up things to get my sisters and me gifts, and even if they were not huge, those gifts were the best. Some parents don't have anything they can do to make the Christmas they want for their children. Letting us step in and fill that need is a big thing.”
In the past, the party had been hosted and set up by the Student Council, but this year the National Honor Society will be hosting the party instead. The reason behind this change is that it allows the Student Council to lessen their workload, according to senior Chanasia Brown, who serves as both Student Council President and National Honor Society Activity Coordinator.
“Spreading joy makes me feel serene,” Brown said. “The thought of having enough to give back and being able to give back just feels like I’m doing something right, and like I am being helpful to someone.”
Now that the National Honor Society is setting up the party, there are a couple of changes with the activities that are at the event.
Some of the activities that have been available at the party in past years are cookie decorating, a winter twist on hot potato called frostbite and a “snow” bucket shoveling challenge.
According to Brown, volunteering and donating one’s time “almost becomes addicting,” knowing the impact they can have on someone else’s day or life.
“When you learn to give and just receive, it changes a part of pride you have in yourself,” Brown said. “You feel much more proud of yourself. You feel a sense of confidence in what you stand for, especially if you’re lucky enough to see how your choices to give can impact those who you’re giving to.”
Although the responsibility of the Children's Christmas Party is now the National Honor Society’s, despite the change in who is organizing the event and the small changes here and there, they plan to keep most of the activities the same as in previous years.
“[We are] trying to preserve the history and the reputation of the Children’s Christmas Party,” Brown said.
The biggest change, Brown said, is that the party will also allow children from Warren’s Early Learning Center to participate.
With this being one of the biggest events that is held at Warren Central this year, there is an equally large number of children signed up for this event from around the township, amounting to an estimated 50 or more kids.
The Christmas party serves as an opportunity for children who may be less fortunate than others or who may not have someone to give them gifts so they may feel included and also be able to receive gifts.
Some common gifts that are given to the children can be toys that are related to their favorite color, superhero, sport or games. It is also important to others that these children who may not be able to afford gifts and thanks to those who donate these children can receive gifts too.
Junior Betsabe Bautista-Esquivel became involved with the Christmas Child efforts last year in her Japanese class, donating gifts for their sponsored child and even attending the party with him.
“I feel as though it’s very important because not many kids are as fortunate as others,” she said. “Many kids don’t have the luxury of coloring books, coloring pencils or even good clothes for the winter because it gets really tough in Indiana with the cold.”
While giving back remains helpful during the holidays, Tirey said Christmas should not be the only “safe blanket” those in need receive throughout the year.
“We need to take the next step and figure out how we can give them that support every month, not just the one at the end of the year, in the coldest darkest time, but all the time every time,” he said.