By Maurisha Ross

This holiday season the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will try to bring joy to children in need.

The Shriners Hospital for Children of Lexington is one of 22 of its kind. The hospital services children through comprehensive medical, surgical and rehabilitative care.

Many of the children who stay at the hospital are unable to make it to their homes for the holiday season, so the ladies of AKA help bring the joy of Christmas to them through their Christmas Krafts for Kids program.

“A lot of the sick children can’t go home for the holidays,” said Tiffany Lawson, president of the Iota Sigma chapter of AKA. “We just want to show them that someone cares, that we care.”

Christmas Krafts for Kids is a program that AKA has hosted for about five years.

During this program the members invite other students around campus to join them making crafts to bring to the children at the Shriners Hospital for Children.

“We just want to do something to bring a little happiness to the kids,” said Krystal Beatty, historian and public relations chair of the chapter.

At Christmas Krafts for Kids several tables will be set up with different crafts to make, including crafts like reindeers and snowmen made of popsicle sticks and cotton balls, homemade ornaments and homemade cards.

In the past, members of the sorority have delivered the gifts to the administrators of the Shriners Hospital for Children, but this year they plan to personally deliver the gifts to the children.

“We want to give them support in their time of illness throughout this holiday season,” said Joy Priest, member of AKA .

Christmas Krafts for Kids will take place in the Center for Student Involvement, located in the Student Center, on Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. All students are welcome to participate.