Carter Brown accepts a gift from the man - Santa Claus.
LIMA — Crafts, foods, gifts, Mrs. Claus and the man himself, Santa. What better way could there be to spend a winter afternoon?
It’s not exactly known how long the Lima Rotary Club has been hosting a Christmas gathering for special needs kids in the Lima area. It is believed to have started sometime in the 1910’s which would make the current festivities over the one hundredth time that the Rotary has hosted such an event. Kids with special needs and their families were invited to the event held at the Shawnee United Methodist Church.
The Liberty Arts Magnet Touring Company sang four holiday numbers with choreography. Mrs. Claus then read “The Night Before Christmas.” Then the big moment when Mr. Claus entered the building bearing gifts for the boys and girls. Some kids were at first a bit reluctant to open up to the jolly old man, but Santa won them over with a warm smile and a gift. Thirty-six kids were invited to the festive event this year.
The kids having fun with balloons, face painting, playing with gifts and interacting with family and newly formed friends made for a most enjoyable afternoon.
Rotarians assisted with the kids as they worked through craft sessions or maybe got a face painted. The Bath Interact Club also assisted with the kids. Interact advisor Telea McKissick said that when the sign up to help was posted at the special needs event, over thirty kids signed up, by far the most popular of all the events in which the Interact Club participates.
Reach Dean Brown at 567-242-0409
