Good parents want to be able to afford a night of fun and games for their children, but during the holiday season — when everyone is rushing to the mall — many parents are struggling to find money to pay for one or two Christmas presents. 

In steps Alpha Omicron Pi, which hosts Christmas with the Kids as one of their annual philanthropy events.

The event is a partnership between AOII, a fraternity and a local elementary school. This year, the members of AOII are working with the members of Phi Gamma Delta to give presents to 30 children at Russell Cave Elementary School, according to Jenni Ho, a biology senior. Ho is the Christmas with the Kids Chair for AOII.

AOII has worked with different fraternities in the past, and this is their first time partnering with FIJI.

Michael Shunnarah, a political science senior and the Christmas with the Kids Co-Chair for FIJI, said the fraternity is thankful to be able to work with AOII to help local children this year.

AOII and FIJI members began working on fundraising through GoFundMe pages, restaurant nights and personal donations. The fundraising goal is $6,000. After that Shonda Johnston, a teacher at Russell Cave Elementary, gave the names of 30 students whose parents are not able to give them many Christmas presents. 

“A majority of the families we work with come from families of foreign backgrounds,” Ho said. Ho said she can relate to the students she gets to interact with because she is the child of immigrants from Taiwan.

After all of the money has been raised, “the brothers of FIJI and the sisters of AOII are split into 30 groups, one per child,” Ho said. Each group receives a certain amount of money to pick out and purchase gifts for its assigned child. The event will end with a night spent at GattiTown on Dec. 1.

“We wrap up the presents and bring them to GattiTown and enjoy the night with the families playing games and winning prizes,” Shunnarah said.

The money not used for gifts is used for an hour of playing time for each child and a meal for the children and their parents. The children will open half of their presents on that night, while the other half are given to their parents to be saved for Christmas Day.

“The goal of Christmas with the Kids is to give as many families and children as we can support a night they will never forget, and to help them have a great Christmas,” Ho said. 

“I believe the main goal of Christmas with the Kids is to show the children and families the spirit of the holidays,” Shunnarah said.