By Julianna Gasca
EOP&S, CARE, and CalWORKS provide event for student parents on campus to bring their children to a fun, holiday spirited event.
Director of EOPS, CARE and CalWORKS, Sara Gonzales-Tapia, said this event is used to recognize and give back to student parents on campus.
“It’s important to recognize that our students on campus are also parents and we really want to engage them with activities that honor and acknowledge that,” Gonzales-Tapia said. “Having their children on campus is a wonderful way for them to see where their parents attend school.”
Staff, faculty and campus community members, referred to as adopters, adopt an angel which is the child of a student within one of these programs. Adopters receive the angel’s wishlist and go shop for their gifts.
This event fosters joy for students and their children. The children receive a gift and a book they put on their holiday wishlist.
Director of student support services, Jessica Lopez-Jimenez, adopted a few angels this holiday season.
“It’s such a joyful event,” said Lopez-Jimenez. “Seeing how excited they are, how happy they are, it’s an event that aligns with the season and the spirit of the holidays.”
Melissa Edwards, an administrative clerk on campus, adopted an angel as well.
She said it was an opportunity to give back.
“Knowing that a small act of kindness can brighten someone’s holiday and make them feel cared for is incredibly heartwarming,” Edwards said in an email.
Edwards is a former CalWORKS student so she said she understands just how impactful events like this are.
She said she is grateful for the roles that these programs played in her journey and being able to provide a positive experience to someone else is very meaningful.
“As a former CalWORKs student, I understand the challenges that many face,” Edwards said in an email. “and now that I’m able to give back, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to offer kindness and support to others in a way that once helped me.”
This event aligns well with the holiday season and the tradition of giving back, often through donations.
Gonzales-Tapia said she is so thankful to have such a supportive campus community because all the gifts and books are through donations.
That strong sense of community can be felt throughout Citrus staff.
“I also love the sense of community it fosters, as everyone comes together to support and uplift one another. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of generosity and connection,” Edwards said in an email.
This year, 80 angels were adopted, Gonzales-Tapia said.
“We’re really blessed to have such a supportive campus that always wants to adopt the children, always wants to do more, always wants to buy the gifts and contribute in that way and all our angels always get adopted every year,” Gonzales-Tapia said.
The holiday season and feelings of generosity and togetherness is a way for the programs to foster an environment of literacy for the angels.
The theme this year is “Read, read, read, as fast as you can. Read with me I’m the Gingerbread Man!”
The program asks adopters to pair the gifts with a book that was included on the child’s wishlist.
Lopez-Jimenez is giving her angel the book “The Hunger Games” by Suzanna Collins.
Edwards is giving her angel “The Sour Grape” by Jory John.
The event allows student’s children to see where their parents receive their education and be a part of it.
“They (the angels) are coming to their parents’ college to do something that’s exciting and fun,” Gonzales-Tapia said.
These programs put on a holiday event and party that brings happiness and holiday spirit to student parents and their children.
Adopters get to bring a smile to a child’s face with voluntary donations, which makes this special.
“My favorite part of this event is seeing the joy and gratitude it brings to those who receive the gifts,” Edwards said in an email.
This year, the party will include food, crafts, Hooty the mascot giving out the gifts and a reading of “The Gingerbread Man”.
“It’s a great way to kick off the holiday season and see their joy,” Lopez-Jimenez said.
