Sara Parker from Utah Central Credit Union explains how the Christmas Wishes program works.
All the students in this program attend Lincoln Elementary School, in Salt Lake’s urban core. Nearly 95% officially live below the poverty line. It’s also a school of vast diversity with a large refugee population from Burma, Sudan, Somalia, and Burundi.
Most surprising of all, when requesting holiday gifts, the students ask for simple things.
Recalling Christmas Wishes as a first grader, one young girl wrote “I was so happy when I got a pair of socks and a blanket. I started to cry because I didn’t have to share my blanket with my mom anymore. It was great that I got some socks to keep my feet warm.”
A teacher at Lincoln Elementary shared the story of a student who “opened her gift to get a pillow with a pillow case. She hugged the pillow and said it was her first very own pillow.”
Walk into any Utah Central branch office and select a hand-made ornament hanging on one of our holiday trees. On the flip side the student has requested a personal “need” and a personal “want.” Needs can be as basic as toothpaste and school supplies, even food. Wants can be the things that all kids dream about -singing dolls, action figures, remote control cars, Nintendo games, Fisher Price toys. Bring the purchased gifts back to any Utah Central branch in the Salt Lake Valley and they will be presented to the students December 17.
Utah Central is also granting wishes to two Studio 5 viewers. To enter, send an email to studio5@ksl.com, briefly explaining your wish or that of someone you know.
To learn more about Utah Central Credit Union, you can find them online at www.utahcentral.com.
Add comment