Jackson County kids, families get a special day of Christmas fun

PASCAGOULA -- The holidays are supposed to be a time when families get together, exchange gifts, and share good food and fellowship. For many, however, the season is not a joyous time, but rather a time of separation or need.

Employees at Pascagoula's Hilton Garden Inn saw the need at the holidays and sought to make a difference Wednesday, hosting 22 children and 17 families for Gifts of Giving at the hotel. Each child got to speak to Santa, and received Christmas gifts.

The hotel gave each family a full Christmas meal including turkey, trimmings and a pecan pie. Each family also received blankets.

In addition to the gifts and food, the event featured crafts and games for children, a Christmas movie and a hot chocolate bar.

"It's part of our culture to give back to the community," said general manager John Tanner, who served as Santa for the evening. "This a thank-you to our community."

Gina Underwood, Hilton Garden Inn's director of sales, said the idea came about during a managers' meeting. The managers then contacted Adrienne's House, a women's shelter; Our Daily Bread, a Pascagoula soup kitchen; Home of Grace addiction-recovery program; and Sisters of Jackson County, a service group, seeking residents who needed assistance to make some good memories of the holiday season.

Underwood said the hotel will be sending several bags of food to Our Daily Bread.

"We wanted to reach out and find something to do for families in our community," she said.

Amanda Johns, shelter manager at Adrienne's House, said the event provided "lots of Christmas joy and cheer."

Christmas, she said, is a time for families to be together. But for the families at Adrienne's House, those family times can be difficult.

"It brings normalcy to our residents," she said. "It's normal during this time to go to Christmas parties, to have pictures with Santa. This allows (shelter residents) to experience this."

Although the shelter might not be able to bring all family members together at Christmas, Johns said events such as Gifts of Giving help "create a family environment. It gives parents and children an opportunity to spend quality time together in a safe environment."

Tanner said playing Santa was important to him, to show the hotel's commitment. He said families in distress is something the hotel and its employees "see every day."

"It boils down to doing something for our community," he said. "There is a need for this."

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 10:17 PM with the headline "Jackson County kids, families get a special day of Christmas fun."