Santa came early this year for the preschoolers at Sheldon Child Development Center, and he ditched his sleigh in favor of a motorcycle!
A trio of bikers from Kansas City, representing the non-profit organization Hands to Hearts, arrived on Wednesday with wrapped gifts for each of the 367 children who attend the center. The presents, which were collected throughout the year, were brought in by Michael Bergen and his “elves,” Bobby and Dasher (yes, Dasher!).
Sheldon principal Scott Henson explained the fun- but agonizing- process the hundreds of children went through to receive their gifts. “The children gathered in the hallways right outside their classrooms, and Michael personally handed each child a gift. Then he had everybody wait until he counted to three to unwrap them, which can be somewhat of a challenge for a three- or four-year-old!” This was the 20th year Hands to Hearts has delivered gifts to children in the Midwest, and the 2ndyear at Sheldon.
The Sheldon youngsters have received gifts from several other generous donors this year, too. Constructive Playthings, an educational toy company, sent the school over $7,000 worth of new toys, and Barnes and Noble donated a Little Golden Book for each of the center’s preschoolers. A Sheldon parent, who works for God’s Storehouse, also brought in a stuffed animal for every child.
We hope the Sheldon preschoolers enjoy their gifts and have a delightful holiday season!
