Over 400 Families Served At Our 2019 Children’s Holiday Party

Mile High United Way’s Children’s Holiday Party brings the spirit of the holidays to over 400 families, children, and volunteers in our community.
 
Each year, Mile High United Way welcomes hundreds of families in our community to come celebrate the holidays with us. Children get to partake in crafts, face painting, cookie decorating, and photos with Santa. Everyone leaves with great memories, books, coats, and plenty of gifts for the holidays.
 
“It’s so beneficial for families to come to this event. It’s been a huge help for my own family. A lot of us parents are working to make ends meet, and it’s good to have that extra help around the holidays. You don’t want to have to choose between paying your bills or buying gifts for your children,” shared one parent.
 
While children are enjoying the holiday festivities, parents and guardians are able to shop for gifts to take home for their children. Many of the gifts are donated through corporate toy drives. Over 2,400 toys were donated this year to the Children’s Holiday Party.
 
“This event allows you to actually see what you’re giving back to the community. It’s such a different way to engage; you see the programs and the work in action. It solidifies for me why I give,” one donor shared.
 
This year, 500 volunteers gave their time to make the Children’s Holiday Party great. “I had only helped out with toy sorting in years past. I would help organize the toys that would be given out at the party. This is my first year volunteering during the party and helping families pick out gifts. To be able to be a part of this experience and see the aftermath of it all is amazing.”
 
And it’s not just adults to love to volunteer, it’s kids too. “I get my family to volunteer because it’s an amazing experience. My 11-year-old loves helping parents find the exact right gift for their children. She says helping makes her heart grow. Every year, she wants to do a different job, so that she can experience the full event.”
 
Another volunteer shared that, “I’ve been volunteering at the book section the last few years. It’s great to see these young ones go home with books. And to now see teenagers giving back their time and volunteering, it really means a lot to these kids.”
 
At this year’s Children’s Holiday Party, families and volunteers alike were feeling the holiday spirit. “This is easily one of my favorite events of the year. You see these families get the full experience. They’re receiving gifts, but it’s so much more than that. These families are getting to celebrate the holiday together. To see all of the volunteers come out, and the community come together to help those in need around the holidays means everything.”
 

To relive the day, view photos from the Children’s Holiday Party here.