On Dec. 3, the Student Activities Council held its annual event, Carl Perkins Christmas, a collaboration between Union students and the Exchange Club/Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Jackson, said Jared Dauenhauer, Assistant Director of Student Leadership & Engagement.
Students, groups of friends and campus organizations sponsor a child.
On the day of the event, the sponsors take their sponsored children to dinner at Brewer Dining Hall and then to the “Christmas Wonderland” that SAC creates in the Bowld Student Commons.
While in the magical environment, children make themed arts and crafts, receive gifts from their sponsors and hear the true Christmas story,” Dauenhauer said.
Celia Leatherwood, senior Special Education major, is a committee chairperson who helped to plan Carl Perkins Christmas.
Leatherwood said the seven-person committee coordinated transportation for the children, decorating the Christmas wonderland, snacks for the children and crafts and activities.
During the event, the children explored the Christmas wonderland.
A “Happy Birthday, Jesus” cake, as well as a hot chocolate bar for the kids, were new additions to the event this year, Leatherwood said.
The event closed with a reading of the Christmas story, Leatherwood said.
“It’s a great opportunity to share the truth of the Christmas season with the participants, and we want to keep that at the heart of all we do,” she said.
Leatherwood also said SAC aimed to “step decorations up a notch and just really make it feel like a special Christmas celebration.”
She added, “Unfortunately, renting a snow machine did not quite fit into the budget, although I did look into it.”
Leatherwood said SAC members were ecstatic this year because of the organization’s new rugby-style red- and white-striped shirts.
“We are super stoked to get to wear these during Carl Perkins Christmas because we all look like walking candy canes,” she said.
