Subscribe
Community
Families make a toy connection
Children's Aid helps Santa locate every child
Friday, Dec. 18, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by GRETCHEN PHILLIPS
Wanda Jackson, left, helps Erica Magruder pick out gifts at the Christmas Connection.
|
E-Mail This Article
With the help of the Christmas Connection program, little Christian Kotvis, 2, of Waldorf will get the things he needs for Christmas — and some of the things he wants.
The Charles County Children's Aid Society with the help of 350 volunteers distributed gifts to families in need this week so children could have a joyful holiday season.
"It means a Christmas for my son," Jenny Kotvis of Waldorf said about the program.
One thing Kotvis found for her son was a new sippy cup. Being 2, Christian might not find the cup or clothes to be great presents, so lucky for him his mother was able to pick out a few nice toys like a stuffed Elmo doll he might enjoy.
Set up in the main hall of the National Guard Armory in La Plata, Christmas Connection looked like a small department store with neat stacks of new clothes, board games, books, toys, electronic gadgets and more all neatly organized for families to look through. Everything was free of charge for the shoppers, including impeccable customer service provided by volunteers.
While the program provides gifts for children, some local businesses donated items more fit for adults, such as ladies undergarments and adult-sized slippers.
Fortunately, the Children's Aid Society lets nothing go to waste and everything was up for grabs, allowing some older shoppers to get a little something for themselves while they picked up presents for their children.
Earle Knapp, a member of the board of directors for Children's Aid Society and coordinator for the Christmas Connection program, said 2,700 children are being served through the program from 1,000 families this year.
Every item was donated. Knapp said every person helping out volunteered without pay. Volunteers handled everything from unpacking boxes of donated gifts to helping shoppers select gifts right down to getting all the gifts into shoppers' cars.
Knapp walked around assisting in just about every way from talking with families to making sure everyone found a special something for their children. Knapp did it all while holding a plunger.
"When a tall guy comes over and is holding a plunger, it's got to be funny," he said.
Knapp learned in the 10 years he has been with the Children's Aid Society and volunteering with Christmas Connection that many people who come to the giveaway for the first time are not always comfortable no matter how easygoing volunteers are.
Knapp said many people seem to drop their guard more readily at the sight of goofiness.
Wanda Jackson of Fort Washington has volunteered with the program for several years and enjoys giving back to the community.
Wearing a flashy Christmas sweater and a Santa hat, Jackson helped shoppers find the perfect gifts and kept a smile on her face.
Jackson helped Erica Magruder of Waldorf pick out gifts for her 4-year-old daughter. Magruder said the program is very helpful especially in a down economy.
While Magruder would still have had Christmas for her daughter, with the help of the Christmas Connection, the holiday will be a little more special.
Making special connections is what Don Swaniger hopes for when volunteering.
Swaniger volunteers at the stuffed animal station because he gets a chance to talk with shoppers while they pick out a meaningful stuffed friend for their children.
Swaniger said families seem to spend a lot of time at the stuffed animals looking for the perfect one.
Nothing is more special, according to Knapp, than the volunteers themselves. As he scanned the room, he said each volunteer spends countless hours helping those in need. Knapp said he is in awe of it all.
"That's something special as far as I'm concerned," he said.
The last day for the Christmas Connection is today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the armory on Hawthorne Road.
