If you walked into our conference room during the month of December, you might have been slightly overwhelmed. What is usually a space for meetings and quiet study had been completely transformed into “Santa’s Workshop” even featuring what we referred to as “The Squishmallow Mountain.”
Thanks to your incredible generosity, the room was overflowing with presents, waiting for our team of volunteer elves who spent days wrapping every single gift. But the magic didn’t stop with the presents under the tree.
This year, our youth were treated to multiple donated meals that made campus feel like home. Whether it was a traditional spread of turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings, or a festive lunch of fried chicken and holiday sides, our buildings stayed busy and the tables stayed full.
Between the ice cream sundae bars, decorate your own sugar cookies, and festive goodie bags, there was no shortage of smiles. Every single youth, regardless of what program they were in, received a stocking overflowing with treats—a small but powerful reminder that they are seen and cared for by people they’ve never even met.
It is easy to see the piles of toys, the mountain of plushies, and the plates of food as just “stuff.” But to a youth at UMYH, these things represent something much deeper.
When a volunteer spends hours wrapping a gift specifically for them, or a local business donates a hot meal for their Christmas party, it sends a message: “You are worth the effort.” For many of our youth, these festivities are a chance to set aside their worries, feel the support of a community they’ve never even met, and just be kids.
To everyone who dropped off a gift, sponsored a meal, or spent their afternoon wrapping presents: Thank you. You didn’t just give us “stuff”—you gave our youth a sense of belonging.