Community Service
Care and Share

Danielle Melus
DCBIA Community Service Coordinator

 

The DCBIA Community Services Committee would like to thank the many members whose contributions helped make the annual Care & Share party at Children of Mine Center in December a wonderful success. Member companies and individuals donated hundreds of gift-wrapped presents for children of all ages and cash donations to ensure a great holiday party with all the trimmings.

Children of Mine Center located in Ward 8 just off Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, serves as an after school center for nearly 250 neighborhood children. Founder and director Hannah Hawkins and her team of volunteers provide a safe, structured environment where children receive guidance and tutoring, participate in organized activities and are served home-cooked meals. We can’t say enough about Hannah and her helpers who are committed to providing a quality environment for many young children.

Arriving straight from school on December 18, the children were met by DCBIA volunteers with loads of fun activities in store. Instead of the normal routine of homework and lessons, the children crafted Christmas tree ornaments and other creative holiday items, guided by several talented members of the Community Services Committee. Jefferson Millwork provided life-size, three-dimensional wood-cut reindeer, fir trees and accompanying ornaments for painting and decorating. The children loved this activity! Indoors, Clark Construction and SKB representatives, along with other volunteers, led the children in holiday craft making. Of course, most popular was the cookie decorating table with plenty of frosting and sprinkles. Face painting by several gifted ladies from the Community Services Committee turned out tigers, ninjas and butterflies.

A visit from Fonzie the Clown and the famous TV cartoon character, Sponge Bob Square Pants, delighted and entertained the children with balloon sculptures and other amusements until dinner – pizza, of course – was served. The party concluded with each child visiting Santa (Claude Thomas of Technical Property Services) who handed out presents and goodie bags to every child.

When the festivities were over, the kids emerged from the Center with happy painted faces, balloon hats atop their heads, clutching bags full of presents, goodies and hand-made crafts – and Hannah’s parting words: “You go straight home now!”
Everyone had a wonderful time – children and volunteers alike!

A special thanks to Kerry Iris of KIK Investments for providing several dozen fleeces (great gifts for the older children); and Toni Aluisi for providing complete makeup kits for the teenage girls.