Hundreds benefit from Coalition's Christmas party

TUESDAY, DEC. 11: Hundreds of needy children were able to celebrate Christmas last weekend with a special meal and gifts from Santa Clause.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children held its annual Christmas party on Sunday at St John’s Church Hall.

Clients of the charity and their families attended the event and were treated to performances, Christmas music and a live band.

Sheelagh Cooper, chair and founder of the charity, has been hosting the event for the past 20 years and has no plans of slowing down.

“It was very small. The first year it was held in my house and my husband was the Santa Claus.

“That’s how it started out.”

On Sunday, there were 400 to 600 people at the party and every single child walked away with a present.

“It’s mainly Toys for Tots that donates.

“They have been doing it for ten years for us. Before, it was CableVision.

“Toys for Tots have done a wonderful job.”

She continued: “Every year they do a better and better job.

“We’re so grateful to them and the community for being so generous to us.

“We were having presents being brought in by people who are financially stretched.

“It’s really just heartwarming to see that.”

Mrs Cooper said with the extra presents, mothers can come back and pick out another gift for their child/children to open on Christmas morning.

If there are still gifts left over, they are donated to the Salvation Army, Big Brother Big Sister and other organisations.

“At this point, it’s really the highlight of these children’s year.

“They look forward to it and they get dressed up.

“It’s almost an institution in itself, one that I couldn’t ever think about discontinuing.”

She continued: “People ask who’s invited. We serve about 350 families on a regular basis so these are the children of those families who are our clients who we know are struggling.”