Local church “adopts” children for the holidays

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY, KSWT) - For some children, the holidays highlight those who are missing from their lives.

On Saturday afternoon, Champion Church hosted a holiday event for children with incarcerated parents or guardians.

From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. families and children entered the doors of the Champion Kids Studio at Champion Church for a craft-based event where they also received presents.

Chery Streich, the event coordinator, said in the past she and her husband would deliver the gifts personally to children.

This was the first year hosting an on-site party which would benefit even more children.

"It took three days to deliver 80 gifts last year. This year we have 182," she said.

It was true -- the first thing that caught the eye was a mountain of gifts on a raised platform, surrounded by festive decorations and twinkling Christmas trees.

Multiple blue tables with craft supplies filled the space, where children were to make Christmas cards for their incarcerated loved ones.

Streich had a Polaroid camera handy next to the sign-in desk, used to take pictures of the children to include in their cards.

The message was clear: though the holiday season is in full swing, not all are able to spend them with their families.

The event reminded children and families that they can still be connected through acts of kindness such as this.