For the last five years, Mile High United Way has hosted an annual Children's Holiday Party. This year's event was a crazy success!
Every year, the Mile High United Way Children's Party is a welcome break for under-resourced families in our community. This year's event, held on December 9, included over 390 families and 1,100 kids, as well as 300+ volunteers. These families are identified by Mile High United Way partner agencies that aren't already providing holiday shopping experiences. Families are given a specific time to come to the event. When they arrive, they are checked in and can then take part in all the activities! On the main level of Mile High's building, families can enjoy free breakfast together. The kids can also decorate cookies. There is a room full of arts and crafts style activities where kids can color, make festive hats, get their faces painted, and other activities. There are also donated books at a variety of reading levels, and a designated room to meet and take a photo with Santa! [gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="29019,29020,29021,29022,29023"] While the kids are enjoying all the festivities downstairs, upstairs is where all the magic really happens! Thanks to generous businesses and other donors, Mile High United Way received over 4,00 toys for kids ages 0-18. Parents can go upstairs and pick out two toys per child, or one bike. The volunteers wrap the gifts for the families and deliver them back to the parents ready to be given. If the toy requires batteries, Mile High United Way provides those as well! [gallery type="rectangular" size="large" ids="29024,29025,29026,29027,29028"] All you have to do is look at some of the letters Mile High United Way received last year from families who attended. They expressed thanks and told some of their stories of why this event meant so much to them:"This was so much fun. Thank you so much. For a single mom it's hard to afford things for my daughter. This was such a blessing. Thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone who participated in this event. Love and prayers to everyone!"
"Merry Christmas. Thank you so much for making Christmas for my boys, I don't know if it would have happened without you." "United Way, Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide a good x-mas for my children. I am going through a hard time right now, but I'm glad there are resources like this."You can see more thank you notes and some video from the 2016 Holiday Party in this video:
"Mile High United Way does a fantastic job providing a fun holiday party for the children, and a safe environment for parents to shop in."All I can say for sure is that I left the event almost in tears at the generosity and compassion of Mile High United Way and the Denver public at large. Keep on rocking, Mile High United Way!
Mile High United Way is doing all sorts of great work with women and children in Denver! You can learn more about their Women United initiative and other programs here!