Garland’s Noon Exchange Club recently hosted a Christmas party for local children from more than 20 Garland ISD elementary schools. The students enjoyed lunch at the Hella Shrine Temple followed by a festive Christmas party.
Brooke Katz, anchor and reporter for CBS 11 News, served as emcee for the event and State Representative Angie Chen Button was also on hand to celebrate with the kids. Former Garland City Council Member B. J. Williams, Garland’s City Manager Bryan Bradford and several Garland ISD SROs also enjoyed the festivities. Tony Torres, who serves as the president of GAFHA and Assistant Police Chief Ben St. Clair joined the celebration as well.
St. Clair said that the police department is happy to have this positive interaction with local kids and SRO D.J. Scicluna also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate with the students.
“Coming to an event like this and seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces is great,” Scicluna said. “I have goosebumps right now. Giving back to children who might not have the opportunity for something like this at home means the world to me and other officers at the Garland Police Department.”
The South Garland High School Southern Belles and Naaman Forest High School First Edition Choir provided lots of fun entertainment. A few of the SGHS football players joined in a dance with the students and entertainers and the Grinch even showed up.
The students enjoyed the entertainment before welcoming Santa Claus who took the time to give hugs and listen to Christmas wishes. All the kids received gifts as well.
According to longtime Noon Exchange Club member Javier Solis, the club has been hosting his event for more than 15 years. He said that Garland ISD high school students do 90 percent of the work for the party. They even shop for and wrap the children’s gifts. The Southern Belles, along with the drill teams at North Garland High School and Sachse High School, the Mam’selles and the Swingsters, helped with the shopping and gift wrapping.
“All the kids get so much out of it,” Solis said. “It’s actually a service project for the high school kids, too.”
Several Southern Belles drill team members agreed that the experience was heartwarming and they enjoyed participating.
Ana DeJesus said that it felt amazing to…do this for the younger children and added that seeing the expressions on the kids’ faces was her favorite part.
Melissa Lopez agreed.
“The kids’ smiles mean the world to me,” she said. “I love seeing people happy. That’s my top priority.”
Savannah Quintanilla added that some of these children might not otherwise get what they want for Christmas and that it made her feel good to help.
Efrain Bonilla said that he loved helping the kids.
“They were so happy that they got what they wanted for Christmas,” he said. “It was life-changing for me.”