Delivering The Holiday Spirit

For the ninth time, Maryland Athletics and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee successfully partnered with Child Resource Connect to provide holiday presents to families in need. 

Each year, Child Resource Connect provides family support services to over 1,500 families and training to over 2,500 childcare providers, parents and human services workers touching the lives of nearly half a million children since 1990. This is accomplished through home visits, child development education, links to community services, and adult education and their programs build a holistic scaffolding of support for caregivers, childcare providers, children, and the community.

“I believe this is one of the most, if not the most important event SAAC holds,” SAAC President Logan Anderson of field hockey said. “Our motto is service to each other and advocacy for one another. One of our main goals in SAAC is creating community between our student athletes and the community surrounding the University of Maryland. We have fans that support us at all of our games so to be able to give them support back is so important.”

Each year, Child Resource Connect sends over holiday wish lists from various families in need to Maryland athletics student-athletes and staff. 

“Child Resource Connect sends us a list of some families who participate in their programs and their wish lists so that SAAC can collect as many donations to buy gifts for 15-20 families. Staff, student-athletes, coaches, family and friends contributed both monetarily and purchased items themselves,” Deja Parker, Maryland Community Engagement Intern said.

“Shopping for the families is such an exciting experience,” Anderson said. “When you put a toy in the cart that was on a kid’s wishlist, the thought of their reaction when opening it makes the whole thing worth it.”

The second key part of the holiday partnership with Child Resource Connect is the subsequent SAAC Wrapping Party that comes after the gifts have been bought.

On Monday, Dec. 4, student-athletes gathered to wrap the gifts that were purchased so they could be properly delivered in the holiday spirit. 

Once again, the partnership between Maryland Athletics and Child Resource Connect was an overwhelming success, bringing holiday joy to many families and children around the community.

“I enjoy that we’re able to make families worry a little less around the holidays,” Anderson said. “Celebrating the holidays for me has always been filled with love and joy and this event helps more families to experience all of that as well.”