As we’re inching closer to Christmas, many families are ready to show their holiday spirit. Plenty of families were able to celebrate the festivities in Lake County on Thursday, December 14. Geminus hosted a special evening with Santa Claus at the Whole Truth Gospel Church of Faith.
Kristin Chamberlain, director of family services at Geminus, describes how an evening with Santa serves as a way to provide something special for all local families.
“It’s a great way for these children to have an opportunity to come see Santa Claus,” Chamberlain said. "There are so many things that can be a little bit outside people's price range. We get to put on something free so the kids can take a picture with Santa, make a memory, and also receive a gift.”
The gifts were funded by the Indiana Department of Child Services. Everybody under the age of 14 was treated to a present courtesy of Santa’s little helpers.
“We use those funds to go shopping and ensure all the kids can leave here with a present,” Chamberlain said. "There are unique gifts for children of every age range to try and give them something they will be excited to use.”
Not only has the Indiana Department of Child Services been a significant partner for Geminus to host this event, but several events throughout the Region. Nicholas Neal, vice president of community services at Geminus, describes the value of their partnership.
“They gave us a grant to put on community events and do prevention to keep families from getting involved with the Indiana Department of Child Services,” Neal said. “This is one of the many events that we can do outreach to give back to the community. Having some of those families come out to learn more about prevention services and keeping these families together is very important to us.”
Following a picture with Santa Claus, families were able to grab some treats on the way out. On top of the gifts that we provided for each kid, everyone was welcome to cupcakes, candy canes, and water bottles.
At the end of the treat table, Geminus was providing human resources to assist those who might need financial or emotional support.
“We provide everybody with these resources with the idea of helping keep families in a good place,” Neal said. “Someone might be struggling emotionally and unsure where to find help. We provide home-based services with the help of our community partners to prioritize families staying together.”
Geminus has hosted this evening for more than five years. They not only provide social services for children and families in Lake County but throughout the state. As for today, Neal considers it a great day for families in the community to create a special memory this holiday season.
As for the man of the hour, he was very excited to share Christmas joy with these families.
“It was a pleasure to see all the good little girls and boys in Lake County that came out here today,” Santa said.
For more information on Geminus, you can visit their website.
