Youth and Families Welcomed to Campus for Winter Wonderland

It’s just before 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and the third floor of the Hemmingson Center could be mistaken for Santa’s workshop. Gonzaga students, staff and faculty bustle about from room to room, carrying decorations and wrapping paper and setting out toys, puzzles, dolls and games for youngsters. Warm mittens, hats, coats and books too – something for every age.

In the ballroom, there's pizza, cookies, fresh fruit and drinks for youth and their families to enjoy. At craft tables, attendees can assemble a snow globe, build a reindeer or fashion a bracelet . There's face painting and games too  – hoops (of course), over-sized tic-tac-toe and cornhole aplenty. Plus a “winter wish” tree to capture holiday wishes and a snowy backdrop complete with hand-held props to snap a memorable holiday photo! Huge videos of roaring fires in a hearth hang on the wall.

A table of first-year Gonzaga students, along with one junior, wait patiently for their guests to appear.

Soon the families start arriving. Parents with youngsters in tow finally get to meet the Gonzaga mentors whom they’ve heard about from their progenies who attend schools throughout Spokane. This Winter Wonderland event serves families supported by the Center for Community Engagement’s (CCE) youth programs, including Campus Kids, Connections and Sparks.

He steps away for a short visit to ‘Santa’s workshop’ to pick out a couple of items for his daughter and her little sister – “something on their list” – and warm socks for each. “This is amazing,” he say with a smile. “We are grateful for the opportunity to connect here today.”

Denise, a mom whose 11-year-old has a mentor at the Campus Kids program at Stevens Elementary, shares the gratitude and enthusiasm of her son. “He’s so excited to introduce us to his mentor,” she says. Her older child, now at Yasuhara Middle School, had a Gonzaga mentor in elementary school, and her youngest is “waiting impatiently” for a turn.

“The bond they build is genuine – it’s a friend, a connection that is really important,” Denise says. “They have fun together!”

Ellen Maccarone, Gonzaga’s acting Vice President of Mission Integration, echoes the joy of the moment. “This is the happiest day of the year for me,” she says, beaming with smiles and good vibes in the wrapping room. “I do this every year and just love to see our neighbors visit campus and share in the delight of the season.”

Before the afternoon is over, Santa Spike pays everyone a visit and dozens more parents, children and volunteers carve out time to share in the Winter Wonderland event.

“We are very grateful for the gift of time and support our families provide by participating in this event,” says Bailley Wootton, director of Strategic Partnerships for CCE. “It is an honor to work with them and to welcome them to campus to share the holiday celebration!”