Christmas Memories

Northside Community Center, Southside Outreach Center

Today was so much fun with 20 of our His Haven Northside after school Drop-In Program children! It was a bus trip to Southside for their turn to shop for Under the Tree From Me, an opportunity to pick out some new PJ’s, a pizza party with LOTS of Christmas cookies and a tour through Tinsel Town on the way back to Northside! There was so much joy and excitement in the air as they sang Christmas carols, selected gifts for their loved ones and giggled and gasped at the incredible display of Christmas lights! A cherished childhood Christmas memory made, for sure!
 

Under The Tree From Me 2022

Northside Community Center, Southside Outreach Center

Under the Tree From Me…was a tremendous success! His Haven provided over 100 children the opportunity to shop for free gifts to give their parents, grandparents and other caregivers on Christmas morning.
 
One mom shared that it was the highlight of her son’s Christmas last year. “He did not want to open his own gifts before my husband and I opened ours!!” One young shopper was in and out of our shopping area in no time. When asked how he was able to make a selection so quickly he replied, “I saw what I knew my mom would like, right away. She loves fuzzy things!”
 
This is a no cost event. Just a smile due at registration! We saw smiles from adults tonight too, as they patiently sat in the waiting area while their children shopped. After one of our staff jokingly made a comment about parents not peeking before Christmas, one dad commented, “Hardest part is waiting!” Hang in their adults…Christmas is less than two weeks away!
 
While shoppers were waiting for their turn, many of them took time to color Christmas ornaments and put festive messages and pictures in Christmas cards that will be hand delivered to a local nursing facility just in time for Christmas!
 
More happy smiles!! 
 
Learn more about our annual event here:  https://hishaven.org/under-the-tree-from-me/