Christmas for the Kids

About a week before Christmas, Whitney Jackson (fellow NGCSU Alpha Gamma Delta alumni) contacted me to see if there was anything the girls at her school could do for people in Haiti for Christmas. Haiti needs so much, especially around the holidays, but with little time and slow shipping what would be the best thing for the girls to do? I thought about it for a little while and finally settled on an idea. Whitney and the girls of the GEMS club were more than glad to help.

Two Alpha Gamma Delta alumni founded the GEMS club (Girls Engaged in Meaningful Service), which is a service club for girls at Memorial Middle School in Covington, Georgia. Together, these 32 young women participate in local service projects, like reading to children at elementary schools, helping with Special Olympics, and collecting items at canned food drives. Last year they broadened their service to include international projects, too. For their last international project, they focused their time and energy on the African Water Crisis.  This year, they made Christmas possible for 40 orphans in the Port-Au-Prince area!

I told Whitney my idea, she talked to the girls, and they decided to donate enough money to buy Christmas gifts for 2 orphanages. After the money was donated, I called three great friends and got to work. Dokte Minaud was busy contacting one orphanage and compiling a list of much needed items while Wesley was busy contacting another. After that list was ready, Wilson and I went to a local store and got all the items needed to stuff Christmas stockings full of goodies. We bought everything from soap and notebooks to toothpaste and toys. After that, we picked up Wesley and went shopping in the street markets, buying two 55-pound bags of rice (one for each orphanage) and a whole bunch of toothbrushes. The next day was spent baking cookies and preparing the gifts for the children.

On the 23^rd, the gifts were delivered to the first orphanage. Everyone greeted us with big hugs and kisses. Although the children probably didn’t care too much about the rice, the directors were definitely grateful for it. The kids and directors alike were all excited to eat the cookies. When cookies are decorated like reindeer, snowflakes, and Christmas trees, who wouldn’t be excited? 

On the 24^th, the rice and stockings were delivered to the second orphanage. When we got there, the children were seated and ready to show us their Christmas presentation. It was so well done! After it was over, we passed out the stockings to the little boys and girls. At first, they didn’t even know what to do with the stockings. After I explained what a stocking was, I told the kids they could open them. Surprised, excited, and happy- those are only a few of the words I could use to describe the children that night. The boys were comparing cars while the girls fed their baby dolls. The toys weren’t the only big hit, though; the children seemed ecstatic about using their toothbrushes! I saw some of them trading colors while others practiced brushing their teeth. Oral hygiene- it’s popular these days! :D

Overall, the GEMS Christmas to the kids was a great success. This was a Christmas that none of the children will forget.

To the GEMS founders and to the parents of the girls, thank you for your passion to the youth of this generation. Even in their youth, these girls have the ability to change the future and I thank you for showing them the ways in which they can do so.

To the girls of the GEMS club, thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. With your enthusiasm and commitment to service, you will not only impact others, but be impacted as well. I pray that your compassion and service to the world will not end after middle school, but carry on to every stage of your life.

Wilson, thank you for helping me shop. Those boys loved the gifts you chose.  Wesley, I also want to thank you for helping me shop, bake and decorate the cookies, and organize the delivery to the first orphanage. The two of you were, are, and will always be invaluable to me and to your country.

Dokte Minaud, thank you for getting the list of needed supplies and helping with the delivery of the gifts to the second orphanage. These children are not only happy, but healthy, and a large part of that is because of you.

Sarah and Rachael, thank you for allowing Christmas to explode in our living room. I appreciate you both helping me stuff the stockings and “test” the toys.  Rachael, thanks for finding the misfit toy. ;)

Here are a few pictures. I hope you enjoy....

The stockings before they were stuffed

 

My roommate, Rachael, playing with the toy cars that
Wilson picked out

Me passing out the stockings on Christmas Eve

Some of the boys opening their gifts

Dolls, pencils, and toothbrushes- not even half of the gifts

 

I think it's safe to say they liked what they got