LORAIN — About 500 area children got a head start on Christmas as the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lorain County hosted its annual Christmas party Tuesday at the Lorain Party Center.

Several community companies and organizations came together to make sure the 526 children had a special Christmas. The donors included the Cleveland Indians, PolyOne, Macy’s, Elyria Catholic and Keystone high schools, Fauver Walker-Keyes and Donovan and Children Services.

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Fifty volunteers and 42 staff members served the children dinner, drinks and cake, and kept them entertained while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive. The children were also able to doodle on the disposable tablecloths with crayons. Boys and Girls Club director of resource development Wendy Murray read “A Visit From St. Nicholas” aloud.

Santa arrived to cheers usually reserved for movie stars or athletes.

While each group lined up to visit with Santa and get a present — such as dolls, toy cars and board games were spotted being shown off by rapturous recipients — the rest of the children got another present.

Each child got a new backpack with a pair of new sneakers from Adidas inside, purchased with money donated from Sole to Soul.

Iyana Harris, 5, and Alaya Kembro, 6, both of Lorain, bounced and giggled with glee as they realized their sneakers matched. Both got brown sneakers with accents of red, yellow and blue, and Yosemite Sam on the sides.

“We’re best friends, so I like having the same sneakers,” Iyana explained.

Autumn Smith, 7, of Lorain, was ecstatic over her new sneakers in blue and silver. Santino Torres, 8, of Lorain, loved his new black high-tops. His sister, Rosie, 5, had to try on her sneakers right away, just like Iyana and Alaya.

As the kids compared sneakers and gifts, staff and volunteers led them in singalongs of Christmas carols. Shylah Wargo, 5, and Elena Fletcher, 6, both of Lorain, compared backpacks and sneakers and colored.
The children then were led to a long row of tables piled with gifts for goodie bags.

Borders, thanks to a book drive by employees, had enough books to give one to every child. BJ’s Wholesale Club donated Rice Krispies Treats, fruit snacks, candy canes and chips. The Cleveland Indians donated Tribe towels, baseballs, pens, pencils, bumper stickers, pennants and notepads.

Contact Melissa Hebert at 329-7129  or mhebert@chroniclet.com.

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