Signing Santa at New Location is Record-Breaking
Our annual Signing Santa event, held at our new home for the first time, was a record-breaker as almost 80 children came to see Santa in the SOMI Unified Sports and Inclusion Center for games, crafts, a signed story time and, of course, a chance to visit a Santa who knows their language.
For executive director Deb Atwood, the Signing Santa event, which began in 2009, is always a highlight.
“It’s our favorite event of the year,” she said. “To see a child who is Deaf have that experience with a Deaf Santa who literally knows their language takes my breath away every time.”
Board president, Rowan O’Dougherty, was one of many board and staff members there to lend a hand, and he had a smile on his face the entire time.
“It’s really for the children,” he told the Grand Rapids Press (one of numerous media outlets that covered the event). “It’s a perfect opportunity for them to come and interact with Santa.”
The event included not just Santa but also interpreters so that everyone had access, one of the D&HHS hallmarks. Interpreters were at the various craft and activity stations, with Santa, and there for the two signed story times.
Also critical to the event’s success, said Erica Chapin, D&HHS community and partnerships manager, were donors, including Quota, State Farm – Sam Martin Agency, Gentex, Catherine’s Health Center, Meijer, Hungerford Nichols, and Sorenson and Marge’s Donut Den which donated cookies for the event.
“Thank you to all our sponsors,” Chapin said. “And thank you to the community for donating gifts. We had enough gifts for every child which was wonderful. And, of course, thank you to the volunteers who made this possible.”
Chapin said the energy in the room at this year’s event was cheerful and contagious.
“Kids were excited to see Santa of course,” she said with a smile. “Families were chatting with one another while the kids played games or opened their gifts from Santa. It was great to see so much joy in one space.”
Chapin noted that one family traveled from an hour away so their children could interact with a Signing Santa.
“They were grateful to have an event like this for their children to attend,” she said.
