Fayette County families rejoiced in Washington Park Saturday at Wishes for Christmas.
The first-ever Wishes for Christmas event welcomed families to mingle and jingle with Santa, Elf, Frosty the Snowman, Big Bird and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Stacy and Steve Reeves founded Wishes for Christmas as a way to give back to the Fayette County community and asked people to bring non-perishable food items, coats, sweaters, gloves, hats, and cash for donations to local organizations.
Steve said they are very grateful for the choir students from Washington Court House City Schools and Miami Trace Local Schools who came together to sing carols. The choir carolers sang for an hour throughout the evening and a representative from the Fayette County chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association helped to sell off the live Fraser fir Christmas trees.
“It was a crazy nice evening,” said Steve.
Coffee, hot chocolate and home-baked goods were brought in and served at the event, and all donations made for those items will be given to the local VFW to help purchase Christmas dinners for local veterans, said Steve.
“It all benefits Fayette County,” said Steve. He said some people had thought that the donations would be distributed across the state or country, but that’s not true. “It’s all for Fayette County.”
He said the parking lot was full Saturday night.
“It’s amazing the people that showed up for Santa Claus. Santa Claus was here and I’ll be honest with you, it was very impressive. We were just in awe at how many people showed up,” said Steve.
Steve said the donation bin was filled full for coats and warm-weather clothing items.
“The food donation box was three-quarters filled. It’s getting ready to be disbursed tomorrow. And then our toy bin, it was at least halfway full,” said Steve.
Steve said all of the donations are in the process of being disbursed to local community organizations.
“We were impressed, with being the first year, it was really nice,” said Steve.
Those interested in purchasing a live tree, wreath or wooden reindeer can stop by for sales from noon to 5 p.m. during the week, except Friday, when they will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday they will be open from noon to 10 p.m. with the lights around the park turned on throughout the weekend.
Steve said they’re talking to Santa about coming back this weekend, so be sure to follow their Facebook page ‘Fayette County Wishes for Christmas’ to stay updated.
