Christmas is For Children and Mimosa Manor

Many of the Schools in Southlake participate in a program called Christmas is For Children. This organization represents several agencies and takes on families that do not have the ability to have a Christmas. Our school chose to adopt many, many angels this year. We decided to take two angels - one for Allison and one for Caroline. These girls were sisters aged 4 and 8. Allison, Caroline, and I made a big trip to Walmart and purchased lots of things for these girls. They divide up the wish list into wants, needs, and educational items, which makes it a lot easier to shop. It was exciting because the older girl asked for a bike, and we were able to find a very reasonably priced one to give her. We (I) wrapped all the gifts and delivered them up to school on the designated day. It was unbelievable the number of bags of toys and clothes and bikes that were up in the foyer of the school. It was very moving, and we feel fortunate to be part of a school that has such generous families. I hope it makes an impact on my kids and that helping others, especially during the holidays, becomes a part of their lives.

Allison was fortunate enough to go with a group of students from Carroll Elementary to Mimosa Manor Nursing Home in Keller. Each December and at various other times of the year, CES takes a group out there to help and entertain the residents there. Their favorite activity is Bingo, and so the group leads a series of Bingo games. While an adult volunteer calls out the letters and number, the students help the players with the game and pass out prizes when they win. When someone gets a Bingo, you better get over there quickly with a prize or someone is likely to get upset! The people there really love seeing all the young people and playing Bingo, and I'm glad Allison can participate even in a small way helping others during this time of the year. This year they had so many students and gifts there, that Allison got to take the basket up and down the halls to pass out gifts to the ones that were not able to come and play Bingo.