Emerson hosts Christmas event for families

December 11, 2010

By SHEA STASKOWSKI
sdnedu@bellsouth.net

Emerson Family School hosted a Christmas Extravaganza Saturday morning for families with small children.
“We do a family event every December,” said Elmarie Brooks, Family First Resource Center director.
The free event was sponsored by Project Ready, Excel By 5, Project Take-A-Break, Kiwanis of Starkville and Family First Resource Center.
Families spent time together doing arts and crafts projects and eating Christmas cookies. Santa Claus himself was present to listen to gift requests from the good little boys and girls.
“With the holidays coming up, a lot of people are depressed because of the economic situation, and parents want to do something fun for their children,” Brooks said of the event.
“It’s also a bonding time for families, and it brings awareness to the programs we have here.”
The Kiwanis Club of Starkville provided a free book to every child who attended.
“We’re always trying to promote literacy and reading, especially in the early years,” Brooks said.
Project Take-A-Break, a program for mothers to literally take a break from their small children, capped off the event with a Christmas dance from the pre-schoolers. The children sang Christmas songs from around the world and danced with ribbons.
“I think my favorite part is talking to the families and getting to know them,” Brooks said. “I like to familiarize them with the programs we have because I don’t think people know all the things we provide.”