The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
‘TOUGH’ LIFE CHOICES
Ambassador Brothers hold Christmas party as each child gets to select two gifts
Dozens of children were given a happy holiday Dec. 22 as the Ambassador Brothers of Lorain County hosted a fifth annual Christmas Party in Elyria.
This year’s flagship event drew about 160 people Second Baptist Church, 427 Chapman Road, for food, song and presents.
Stephen Gettis, vice president of the group, said the party is meant for families that have lost a member or experienced some type of hardship over the past year.
“Being people from large families we know how important Christmas is, so we want to be able to share that experience with everybody,” he said. “Everybody deserves to have that experience at some point.”
“It’s just a blessing that they come together and do something like this for the kids.”
— Vonetta McLemore, 43, of Lorain
Last year the party drew about 200 people. The drop in participants is due to a change in the registration for the party.
With the limited participants, though, the group was able to try something different with gift giving.
Stephen McDonald, the
incoming secretary for the group and lead organizer of the party, said as part of the registration process included asking the families for more specific information about their children, which was used to fill bags with specialized gifts.
Children from throughout the county attended. Festooned on the traditional red and green of the season, after finishing their plates of ham, potatoes and
green beans, they sat bristling with anticipation because of two rooms filled with presents to be dispersed.
Many were waylaid on their way to their tables by the shining chrome of a line eight bikes, two Razor scooters and a Frozen tricycle.
These vehicles were a special raffle prize which the lucky winners would take home as well as the
regular wrapped presents they chose.
Harmony Marks, 5, of Lorain, Darieon Farris, 5, of Elyria, and Aryiaha McLemore, 6, of Lorain, were three such children awaiting their presents after eating.
All three said they enjoyed the dinner, but they were really looking forward to the presents, which they all guaranteed they earned with their good behavior.
Harmony and Aryiaha both wanted Barbie Dream Houses, while Darieon said he wanted a motorcycle and a chain.
Harmony said events like this party are good.
“It’s important for Christmas because we get presents from Santa Claus,” she said.
The three were chaperoned by Vonetta McLemore, 43, of Lorain, who said her son, Darieon McLemore,
had died in 2015.
“I feel like some parents, that are single parents now due to the loss of a child, a father or a mother, it helps out with holiday time,” she said. “Some people struggle, some people don’t have (money) to provide for the kids for Christmas.
“It’s just a blessing that they come together and do something like this for the kids.”