On. Dec 17 children were able to receive free gifts and coats, while also visiting with Santa and eating a filling breakfast.
Marlton’s morning sky might have been filled with dark clouds and freezing rain on Dec. 17, yet inside the Indian Spring Country Club, the mood was nothing but bright and warm.
And that mood only grew throughout the morning when more than 100 young Evesham residents and their families filled the building for another successful year of the Evesham Holiday Wishes program.
Once again the Evesham Holiday Wishes program provided free gifts and coats to those children in the township who receive free or reduced lunch at school and whose families need some extra help financially this time of year.
When the doors of the clubhouse opened on the day of the event, dozens of Evesham Township’s employees, elected officials and residents stood ready to escort bright-eyed kids and their thankful families through the club’s large hall, where hundreds of toys were spread upon the floor.
From dolls to race cars to stuffed animals to sports equipment, hundreds of toys were available right at the children’s fingertips.
Once the kids selected some new favorite toys, they also had time to visit with Santa Claus.
During the event, Mayor Randy Brown described the Evesham Holiday Wishes program as a simple way for residents and township employees to give back to those in the local community who need it most.
With the Evesham Holiday Wishes program run as a joint effort between the Evesham Celebrations Foundation and the township, Brown said this year the program raised about $10,000 and took about two months to organize.
“It’s all worth it with the smiles on the faces of these kids as they walk in the door and they see everything that’s here for them,” Brown said between greeting families and directing volunteers during the event.
In addition to the smiling children, Brown also made note of the appreciative parents and families at the event, who Brown said always go out of their way to thank everyone who works to put the program together.
“The kids don’t know as much, but the parents know that we’re here as a community and we’re here to help them … because in every town there’s some form of need, and our town is no different. Sometimes people fall on hard times, and we are here for them,” Brown said.
Councilwoman Deb Hackman, who was also helping guide families through the event, echoed Brown’s sentiments when she described the program as something the township didn’t “have” to do, but “wanted” to do.
“It’s nice when those of us who have been blessed can reach out to each other, because we never know when we’re going to be on that side of the fence. People’s live change, and I’d like to know that in times of need I can count on my neighbor,” Hackman said.
Deputy township manager Monica Vandenberg, who helped organize the event from the township’s perspective, said she was thankful to the Evesham Celebrations Foundation and all the volunteers needed to make such an event a success.
“We are thrilled to coordinate something as meaningful and heartfelt as an event such as this with Evesham Celebrations Foundation,” Vandenberg said. “We are thrilled they’ve established yet another warm event for those in need.”
After picking out toys and visiting with Santa, the children were whisked away once again for a complimentary breakfast in the club’s restaurant.
To learn more about the Evesham Holiday Wishes program or the year-round work of the Evesham Celebrations foundation, visit www.eveshamcelebrations.org.
