Holiday magic warms hearts at Children’s Home Society

This paid piece is sponsored by Children’s Home Society.

Childhood memories make Christmas extra special for many people.

Holiday magic isn’t just Santa Claus and flying reindeer. It’s also the gatherings of family and friends, and the yearly traditions. The sparkling lights and decorations. The gifts — and the anticipation of gifts. The seasonal music, movies and TV shows. The foods, cookies, candies and other treats. And, of course, the expressions of faith and love.

For all these reasons and more, at Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, or CHS, Christmas is a very big deal.

“When alumni come back to see us, nine out of 10 times, they’ll mentioned their happy memories of Christmas at CHS,” marketing director Janet Andersen said.

“The effort put in by our donors, volunteers and board members makes Christmas memorable and magical for our children.”

Here’s a brief look at CHS holiday activities.

Residential care and school

• Art contest

One of First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard’s holiday traditions is using artwork created by a child at CHS for their Christmas cards. Students submit their art, and PREMIER chooses a winner and two runners-up. Cards are printed and sent to PREMIER customers.

At the annual, end-of-year PREMIER staff meeting, the three honored artists are introduced and presented with gifts! The first-place winner also receives a framed print of the artwork. PREMIER also makes a generous donation to CHS.

• Christmas program

Every year, the children in residential care and day school stage a musical program. Parents, caregivers, board members and staff attend the event.

Thanks to the Circle of Friends, a philanthropic group, the children have new, dressy clothing to wear. Many of the children CHS serves have never worn such clothes. A story that’s often told is of a young girl who tried on a beautiful new dress, smiling and twirling. When staff said it was hers, she said, “You mean I get to KEEP it?”

Staff members spend time styling children’s hair and outfits, so each child feels special. After the program, Santa and Mrs. Claus stop in, and everyone enjoys treats.

• Georgetown

This event began when former board member George Roberts wanted children to experience the joy of giving in addition to receiving. Children make lists of what presents they want to give family members, caretakers or Big Buddies — their volunteer mentors.

CHS staff and volunteers purchase gifts and create an on-site store that children visit. It’s a fun event with staff and volunteers in Santa hats, festive Christmas apparel, music, cookies, cider and much good cheer.

Each child brings a list, receives a tote bag and gets help from a staff member to select gifts for their loved ones. The next stop is a wrapping station, where children choose wrapping paper and a handmade bow, and their gifts are wrapped, labeled and bagged.

Each year, volunteer Mary Nelson brings totes full of beautiful handmade bows. Fun fact: For Nelson’s birthday, her husband gives her wrapping paper, which she also donates to Georgetown!

• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Thanks to a special donor, all children receive brand-new pajamas on Christmas Eve, along with one or two gifts. On Christmas Day, they receive the rest of their presents.

How does Santa know what all the children want? Each child makes a list of four to six items. Donors are matched up with gifts, and monetary donations are used to help staff purchase gifts on kids’ lists.

Director of events and volunteer management Erica Krohn keeps a massive spreadsheet that she updates constantly, and a cadre of volunteers spends days wrapping all the gifts. “We’re a small Amazon,” she said.

The same events take place at Black Hills Children’s Home, with an additional, volunteer-led, gingerbread house-making activity for kids.

• Additional donations

Children at CHS receive other items each year from committed donors, including slippers, winter coats and boots.

Community-based services

Children served through Therapeutic Foster Care, Adoption and Family Engagement Services make wish lists and receive gifts through the same system used in residential care. Some donors also choose to provide gifts for families, such as puzzles or gift certificates for activities.

Foster care and adoption clients enjoy a special appreciation meal in Rapid City. Family Engagement Services sends gift cards to the families it serves.

Children’s Home Child Advocacy Center

This program sponsors families over the holiday season, providing gifts, special foods and more.

Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety

Program director of Shelter for Family Safety Amy Carter said the staff has fun with unplanned activities such as cookie decorating or Christmas movies. Sometimes, groups also offer to host holiday fun for clients.

“All families are provided gifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” Carter said. “Typically, gifts are donated by groups, churches, businesses and others throughout November and December.”

“We have two days the week before Christmas when we wrap all the gifts going to the families staying with us,” Carter said. “This takes a lot of staff and volunteer manpower. And children in shelter with a parent have the opportunity to select gifts for them the week before Christmas, which we help wrap.”

Holiday meals also are provided to those in shelter during Christmas.

Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without the Shelter for Family Safety gift wrap booth at The Empire Mall! Volunteers wrap gifts from Dec. 1-24. Donations help the Shelter for Family Safety carry out its mission, and a toy drive is also part of the event.

Bright Start

This nurse-family partnership program holds an annual Christmas party with Santa, gifts for everyone and a special meal. The event is always well attended. A photographer is on hand to provide clients with photos of them and their children with Santa.

Want to help?

Wish lists for Black Hills Children’s Home, Sioux Falls Children’s Home and Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety are available by clicking here.