As Keisha Davis watched her three children excitedly pick their toy from mounds of them stacked high on bleachers surrounding the gym walls of Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling, she said, “It’s wonderful. This is a blessing.”
Davis’ children were among 1,300 youngsters who came to the St. Charles Toy and Gift Fund, which was held Saturday. They had a choice of one toy from more than 3,000 of them in the gym, making the place look like the North Pole even in this year’s warmer temperatures.
It’s a holiday celebration orchestrated on a grand, highly coordinated scale featuring a toy giveaway, photos with Santa, books and food.
The event, run by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), receives assistance from Valero, the United Way of St. Charles, the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish and the Times-Picayune. It has been held yearly since the early 1980s. Now, low-income parish children and their families are able to pick out toys, play games and enjoy food – all at no charge.
“Another great successful St. Charles Toy and Gift event,” Michelle Higgins, RSVP director and gift fund committee member, said of the impact of the gathering. “We enjoy doing this for the children of St. Charles Parish.”
Higgins gave a “big thank you” to the event sponsors and all the volunteers who help make the event possible.
Sitting at a table at the community center entrance lining up children to enter the gym, United Way Community Impact Director Kacy Kernan said her organization welcomed the opportunity to support the event.
“This is a family-oriented event that brings happiness to so many,” Kernan said. “For this one day, they get to see Santa, play games and walk away with a toy. They got to enjoy this day.”
In addition to providing a good day to the children, Kernan estimated 2,500 or more adults who came with them also had an outing and lunch.
“United Way works with RSVP to help make this event possible because we couldn’t do this alone,” she added.
Valero’s more than 100 volunteers, wearing their blue “Valero volunteer” T-shirts, were seen throughout the celebration, but especially outside the building where they prepared and served food to visitors.
Ricky Cheramie, a longtime Valero volunteer, was busily making Pastalaya outside the gym.
“We do it so we can see the smiles on the kids’ faces – that’s just priceless,” Cheramie said. “Hopefully, we make their holiday season better.”
For Cheramie, this is his 12th year as a Valero volunteer, but he and his wife have been supporting the toy giveaway by bringing cookies initially. Valero stepped up the giving to include Pastalaya, hot dogs and chili, snacks and soft drinks.
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