by Kris Cigainero
To most children, Christmas Eve means piles of presents wrapped in pretty paper—a new bicycle or lots of new dolls. But some little children right here in Texarkana will not receive any Christmas gifts this year because their parents cannot afford them.
Many people, when they hear about underprivileged children, feel pity for them, then forget about it and go about their Christmas shopping not giving the matter a second thought. One TC freshman who has given it a second thought is Robert Walters. However, Bob is not just thinking; he is doing. He is now in the process of organizing a special party for these unfortunate children.
In an interview Bob said that the idea occurred to him before Christmas, last year, 1968, to try to get a group of college and high school students together and buy presents for little children whose parents could not afford to give them any Christmas.
“So, I went to a friend of mine, who was a priest, and I asked him how this might come about,” said Bob. The priest then asked Bob, “Well, first of all, are you students doing this for yourselves or for the little children?” Unprepared for this remark he asked the priest what he meant. The priest’s reply was that everyone loves to give, little children included.
Said Bob, “He made me realize how hard, in terms of self-respect, it is for parents to take a child to a party to be given a present, because they themselves cannot afford to give their children a Christmas.”
“We came upon a plan while sitting there and talking,” Bob continued. Instead of having a party for a group of students to give underprivileged children presents, we came up with an idea to let the children give something, too. They took a number of the children caroling at the Temple Home, the Baptist Orphanage, and the hospitals on Christmas Eve, and then rewarded them with presents at a party afterwards.” He went on to say that the party was a success and everyone had a chance to feel the joy of giving.
In his letter to the students this year Bob wrote: “We are the generation who are supposed to believe in peace and love. What better time, and in what better way is there to show it. I urge everyone of you to help make this year’s children’s party bigger and better.”
Bob does need help with this worthwhile project. It is an impossible task for one person to complete. Contributions of toys or time would be greatly appreciated. Anyone who has time to help with the second Young Adult’s Underprivileged Children’s Christmas Party is welcome to come to St. James Episcopal Church, 417 Olive, at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.