Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
Walking into the courtyard was like arriving at a nighttime winter wonderland adventure with every beloved character of Christmases past, Friday night, December 6 at the Kern River Valley Bridge Connection (KRVBC). And all of this celebration was to help neighbors in need.
Eric Simpson, the founder and executive director of Hopester explained the meaning. He said, “The event is called Gift of Giving. Really our heart is to give an opportunity for the families, the parents, to give to their children.”
He told the Kern Valley Sun that the family fun experience included pictures with Santa and creative kids crafts. Parents picked out gifts for their children who also got to play carnival games and win some cute little stuffed animals.
“It’s really just a time of honoring, specifically those families that suffered so much great loss from the Borel Fire. But then also other families in the community that maybe don’t have the resources this Christmas to get their kids gifts. And so we want to provide them that opportunity to give those gifts.”
Organizations participating in the event included United Way, KRVBC, Hopester, and the Pregnancy Resource Center.
The Neighbor to Neighbor Grant and Kern Community Foundation assisted financially in bringing this event to the community. “They are really the heart of funding this opportunity for the families,” Simpson said.
Local Claire Hartley, who volunteered that night, told the Kern Valley Sun, “With this you have the gift wrap, and the bags, and the bows, and the tape, and the tables. And you can come and be with your friends and your new friends. And you don’t have to go out and buy this stuff and find somewhere to wrap this stuff.”
She said, “The next room is face-painting and all kinds of crafts so that the parents can come in here and pick out some things and wrap them while the kids are in there playing.”
Nearby shelves were stocked with an overflow of bedding and pillows, toys, pajamas, slippers, jackets, and gloves. In another part of the room were pots and pan sets. Even more clothing was nicely folded and stacked in yet another room.
Borel Fire survivors were given special priority while other families in need were welcome. The event was well attended with a long line accumulating and waiting, at the entrance, while people signed in at the opening.
