Bl6—Lancaster Fanning, Thursday, December 24,1981 Here is a friend! Santa receives a cordial welcome from the children at Christ Home for Children. Sr ‘t^*^'''.'-- ;^ v '‘/ t Vi - r i’A ,V ' <> -‘ , '- n Z ' ■ VsX‘?\ Gifts are terrific, but hardly anything beats refreshments at a party. Here the children dig into the cake and cookies '■ovided the Boots and Saddles 4-H club. Valerie High renews her acquaintenance with Connie, a very outgoing youngster who seemed to remember many 4- H'ers from the previous year. Boots and Saddles Qub shar ■'/* BY SALLY BAIR Staff Correspondent PARADISE The spirit ot Christmas is giving and loving, -and there was an outpouring of both when the Boots and Saddles 4- H Club visited the Christ Home for Children in Paradise last week. It is the fourth year that the 4-H Club has provided some Christmas cheer for the 22 children who live there, but this was by far the biggest year in terms of quantity. Members, parents and leaders arrived in a caravan, which in cluded one van tilled with 4-H’ers and one van filled with donations plus assorted pick-up trucks and cars, all carrying part of the total Christmas gift for the Home. There .was plenty ot used clothing and toys and many boxes of canned goods for the kitchen. There were even a sofa and a new Joveseat among the items delivered. In fact, the bags and boxes filled a huge living room. The children watched in awe as the 4-H members and parents earned armful after armful into the Home. But more exciting for the children were the special gifts for each one of them. A surprise treat was the appearance of Santa Claus, in the person of Mike Cooper, a Sperry New Holland employee, who distributed the gifts. The children were clearly impressed, and quickly encircled Santa, stroking his beard and hugging his wide girth. When he sat down he was surrounded by all the children, each one of whom wanted to be as close as possible. The had made an all-out -effort to collect donations, in cluding gifts ot money which was used to provide an individual gift for each child, including such things as batons, dolls and trucks. Each child also received a personalized bag which contained a new hairbrush and comb, a new toothbrush and toothpaste and other goodies. There was a small crocheted stocking which con tained livesavers. Both these items were prepared by Ruby Mentzer, a friend of the club. Santa’s wife had made a larger stocking for each child containing an apple, an orange and a candy cane. Club members had also pur chased numerous "house gifts” with the money they received. The children were thrilled with the opening of camera equipment, electric popcorn popper, electronic games and hair dryers. The smiles of appreciation from the children made one know that all the etfort ot the 4-H’ers had been worthwhile. There were shouts of "Look what 1 got,” and “How can I ever thank you?” and (Turn to Page B 18) They squeezed as dose as they could, to be surprises, near that jolly old soul who brought them many for the Christ Home for Children in Paradise. Eager 4-H’ers ' reach out to help deliver the goods into the Home itself to the waiting young residents, who range in age from 9 months to 13 years. Shane and friend talk over this business of Christmas gifts, apparently to the satisfaction of each. • •
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