NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifePre-K to 8Service
Christmas givers as excited as gift receivers
Dec 9, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington sixth-grader Bonnie Tillman tip-toed to the window of the Dodd Dining Hall on Wednesday, took a peek and pranced gleefully to a table of her friends.
“They’re coming. They’re coming!” she announced to her friend Lauren O’Neal, fervently patting a gleaming Christmas present.
A moment later a stream of young children were guided to the tables where Darlington Middle School students greeted them with hugs and helped them tear the wrapping paper from their presents.
Darlington’s 17th annual Christmas party for the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center had the middle students presenting gifts for nearly 100 underprivileged children who attend the Rome-area day care.
“For a lot of these children, these are some of the few toys they’ll ever get,” said Jane Lyon, the center’s director. “It’s just a wonderful and generous thing that Darlington does for them.”
Each of the center’s children, which ranged in age from 2 to 6, received gifts from two middle school students, who often seemed just as excited to play with the toys as their younger counterparts.
Margaret Brown helped unwrap a California-style Barbie doll for her child and then proceeded to assemble a proper wardrobe for the doll.
“It’s really fun to give these kids their presents,” said the sixth-grader. “They just get so excited.”
After presents were opened and properly broken in, the party-goers dined on pretzels and Christmas cookies, washing it down with fruit punch.
It was the third party for eighth-grader Natalie Maffett, who said the children are always bubbling with excitement.
“A lot of them don’t get a lot for Christmas, so it’s awesome to see them get a gift,” she said.
Her classmate Bill Orr echoed her sentiments.
“The kids just have a great time,” he said. “I think it makes sure they have a good Christmas.”
*Written by Marc Dadigan, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer, published 12/9/04
“They’re coming. They’re coming!” she announced to her friend Lauren O’Neal, fervently patting a gleaming Christmas present.
A moment later a stream of young children were guided to the tables where Darlington Middle School students greeted them with hugs and helped them tear the wrapping paper from their presents.
Darlington’s 17th annual Christmas party for the Rebecca Blaylock Child Development Center had the middle students presenting gifts for nearly 100 underprivileged children who attend the Rome-area day care.
“For a lot of these children, these are some of the few toys they’ll ever get,” said Jane Lyon, the center’s director. “It’s just a wonderful and generous thing that Darlington does for them.”
Each of the center’s children, which ranged in age from 2 to 6, received gifts from two middle school students, who often seemed just as excited to play with the toys as their younger counterparts.
Margaret Brown helped unwrap a California-style Barbie doll for her child and then proceeded to assemble a proper wardrobe for the doll.
“It’s really fun to give these kids their presents,” said the sixth-grader. “They just get so excited.”
After presents were opened and properly broken in, the party-goers dined on pretzels and Christmas cookies, washing it down with fruit punch.
It was the third party for eighth-grader Natalie Maffett, who said the children are always bubbling with excitement.
“A lot of them don’t get a lot for Christmas, so it’s awesome to see them get a gift,” she said.
Her classmate Bill Orr echoed her sentiments.
“The kids just have a great time,” he said. “I think it makes sure they have a good Christmas.”
*Written by Marc Dadigan, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer, published 12/9/04
