KIDS TAKE PART IN ANNUAL
“LUNCH WITH SANTA”

By STEPHEN HAMMILL

Seventy kids were given something to smile about Dec. 6, as the Carrollwood Kiwanis Club held an event for Hope Children’s Home called Lunch with Santa.
For the third consecutive year, Aston Gardens on West Linebaugh Avenue in Westchase played host to the event. The lunch was held in Aston garden’s ballroom.

After the dozens of well-behaved kids of all ages, dressed in red and green, finished their lunch, a Kiwanis member dressed as Santa strode in to loud applause. He called their names out one by one, as kids young and old went up for a hug and a personalized present.
“Let go of the button!” A young girl named Betanie eagerly shouted into her new walkie-talkie; her friend Brittany was yelling something back into the new toy from across the room.

Younger children scampered from one table to the next to compare presents with the older kids—there were toy guitars, clothes, stuffed animals. A young boy named Jeffery yelled out “Spiderman!” and then proudly help up two DVD’s for all to see.

The Kiwanis Club of Carrollwood is an organization of local business men and women, dedicated to improving the quality of life of children in the community.
The event for the children of Hope Home this year featured assisted funding from Bay Cities Bank, First Citrus Bank, the Gaither High School Key Club and residents of Aston Gardens. Aston Gardens provided the food for the lunch.

“The whole event is no cost to us, so we can spend it all on presents for the kids,” said Bob Silah, member and former president of the Kiwanis Club. “This (Hope Children’s Home) is our number-one charity.”

Kiwanis’ membership this year numbers in the 20s, and with so many children at Hope Home, Aston Gardens saw fit to provide some of the gifts this year.
“It’s worth it to see the kids faces when Santa comes,” said Beth Leto, Director of Community Relations for Aston Gardens. “The kids are so well-behaved; We’re thrilled to see them.”

Founded in 1968, Hope Children’s Home has rescued nearly 5,000 children between the ages of 2 and 18. Most of these children have been discarded, abused, unwanted or orphaned. The home takes the children in, and houses clothes, feeds and educates them. Hope Children’s Home is a Christian organization that blends religious teachings into all its programs.

The home is located on 45 acres of land near the Veteran’s Expressway in Tampa. Dormitories for the boys and girls can house 80 children. The children live in a family atmosphere with house parents who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Hope Children’s Home receives no state or federal funding and is supported by various churches, private individuals, and organizations.
Dr. Mike Higgins, Pastor and Executive Director of Hope International Ministries, says the typical stay for a child in the program is about two years, but some stay much longer. One Hope Home member, Sharon, has been part of the family since the age of 23 months; she graduates high school this year.
The home looks to repair broken connections between the children and their families.
“But as I always say, they can stay as long as they need to,” said Higgins.

When asked what the home most needs this Christmas season, Higgins replied that their needs change from one day to the next. He recommends interested donors contact the home. Right now, the Hope Home’s Web site lists needs ranging from bathroom supplies like towels and toothbrush holders to property needs like wheelbarrows and shovels.

“But one of our biggest needs is trying to get funds for our kids to go to college,” said Higgins. “This time of year is our big push to raise financial support.”
All of the home’s staff lives on the property with the children.

“They’re up all hours to help the kids,” said Higgins. “They’ve literally walked away from career jobs to be with these children.”
The Hope Home is very much a family affair, with both Higgins’ wife, as well as his son, Matt, involved. Matt works at the Administrator of Children’s Affairs.
The Kiwanis Club and Hope Home have been working together on the Lunch with Santa for 28 years.
Jason Roberts is in his first year as President of the Kiwanis Club. He said the Lunch with Santa “is one my favorite events and probably the favorite of most club members … it’s certainly the best-attended.”

“I’m the one that does the cooking,” said James Hartley, Kiwanis Club member. Hartley’s been involved with Hope Home since joining Kuwanis Club in 1978. “It’s been a good thing over the years. Every year our main project is the Hope Home. Last year we raised over $1000 for computer software for the kids.”
After cleaning up, the children gathered near the Christmas tree in the ballroom to serenade members of the Kiwanis Club with renditions of “Go Tell It On the Mountain” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” It was a way to say “thank you” to these adults, most of them strangers, who had made their Christmas into something so many others take for granted, something normal.

Anyone with questions or donations for Hope Children’s Home should contact Chris Higgins or Candace Roberts at 813-961-1214 or visit http://www.hopechildrenshome.org.