Ianthe Saylor
17 December 2006

JLA Serves Up a Day of Merriment at Holiday Party for over 175 Area foster Children

ANNAPOLIS, Md. [December 17, 2006] – After conducting three toy drives at Kmart stores in Crofton, Edgewater and Pasadena, the Junior League of Annapolis, Inc., in partnership with Annapolis Holiday Cheer and Evolutions Body Clinic, collected more than 1,200 gifts for area foster children.  The gifts were distributed at the Second Annual Jingle Bell Jubilee on December 3, 2006 to area foster children who attended the party at the Miller Senate Office Complex in Annapolis.  In conjunction wit h the Anne Arundel County Foster Parent Association, the JLA invited all 315 children in the foster care system, all of the foster families and adoptive families and the Department of Social Services staff that work directly with the children. In addition to the children and families who attended, National Mrs. Maryland, Ginny Meerman, was also present to greet guests as they arrived and join in the festivities of the day.

The children were treated to activities such as caricaturist Bryan Turner, extravagantly artistic face painting by Melissa Misch, a strolling magician and Hugs the Clown.  Placemats For You – an organization that provides personalized placemats for Meals on Wheels clients – set up a table where children could volunteer their time to help others.  There was excitement at every turn.  Guest also enjoyed choir entertainment provided by Harbor City Music Company and the caroling quartet Joyous Voices who sang while dressed in period costume.  There were also many holiday make-and –take crafts for the children including reindeer puppets, personalized ornament decorating, colorful beaded glitter pens, reindeer tree ornaments, winter snow globes that the children inserted their own Polaroid pictures into, and a coloring station where even the youngest children could enjoy the fun.

Santa was on hand to hear the Christmas wishes of each child young and old.  He and his “elves” assisted with the distribution of over 1,200 gifts while guest dined on a delicious buffet lunch served compliments of The Main Ingredient and delectable sweets from Cakes du Jour and other local bakeries.   This was truly a memorable holiday party for everyone involved and would not have been possible without the generous support of our local donors.