PJs, Pancakes, and Present Making

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

Every child dreams about what Santa is going to bring them for Christmas. Have you ever thought about a child worrying about what to get their bother, sister, parents, grandparents or a friend for Christmas?

We put those worries to rest three days before Christmas for all of our Congo Kids! Our little elves can roll out of bed in their festive pajamas, come to the club and fuel up on a 15+ ingredient pancake bar, and then hit the station tables. Each station had a different feature; crafts (picture frames, ornaments, birdhouses, jewelry boxes, etc.) to make and decorate as gifts, cards (over 30 different types with envelopes and markers) to write and address, and finally wrapping (over 12 styles of wrapping paper, 10 sizes of bags, and every color tissue paper under the rainbow). Once all of the present creating and wrapping was complete, they sat to enjoy a holiday movie before they were picked up. For our elves under 4 years old, an adult stayed to assist them and enjoyed every moment of the holiday magic. This past year was our third year hosting the event and the attendance tripled!

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

We selected one of our largest banquet spaces to create plenty of room for the event, fit with a huge Christmas tree to wrap the pancake buffet around and fire place to turn on by the holiday movie. Summer camp counselors who were in town for winter break came to assist with the event and each selected a station to assist with, dressed in their very own holiday pajamas. We had over 60 kids register for the event with many walk-ins the day of. While we hold many events in the Youth Program over the holidays, this particular event has picked up traction and increased in attendance. Not only were the kids proud of what they had made and wrapped, they exuded pure excitement that their loved ones would be surprised by what they got them—or better yet, what Santa had delivered to them to gift. Parents were beaming with Christmas spirit at the event conclusion, and the team was all smiles (in their holiday pajamas) cleaning up the excessive amount of tape, paper, sugar, and glitter in the room.