MANSFIELD, Ohio The Mansfield Noon Optimist Club held their annual Adpot-a-Child Program on Saturday, Dec. 12. The Noon Club took 22 children Christmas shopping this year.
Children from the Woodland Elementary School were selected by staff members. Charlotte Bottomley and Bill Rea are the Club Chairs for the event.
Bill Rea said it is very rewarding being involved with the various groups of children ranging in age from 5-10 each year. “The Noon Club provides $125 for each child. We ask the parents or guardians for a list of items each child needs, and we generally include at least one toy,” Rea said.
The day starts about 8 a.m. with a Noon Club Optimist member picking up the child at their home. Parents and guardians are made aware of the Club member picking up the child and a general guideline of the day’s event. The child is then taken to the Mansfield Elks on Park Avenue West where the Elks provide a full breakfast for the children and the participating Club members. The Elks have been providing the breakfast for many years.
About 9 a.m., Santa and a helper arrive to greet the children and read them a Christmas story. Individual pictures are taken of the children and Santa. Small gifts are handed out, then it is off to the shopping experience at WalMart on state Route 13. The WalMart Optical Department provides juice boxes, cookies, and cupcakes, after the shopping experience for all the children (and the members enjoy the goodies as well).
McDonald’s on Lexington Avenue provides lunch coupons for the children so they start showing up for lunch after a couple hours of shopping. The play area at McDonald’s really gets a workout.
The children are returned to their home about 1-1:30 p.m. with shopping gifts in hand, all excited to show their loved ones of the new purchases.
The Mansfield Noon Club was chartered in 1923. The group is in its 94th year serving the Mansfield youth. The Noon Club hosts the Home Show at the Fairgrounds each year in March to raise the annual funds which are returned to the youth of the community in events such as the Adopt-a-child program.