Springfield party for children with disabilities reaches record

The event has touched countless lives in the community, bringing a day of fun for many children who otherwise might not get another opportunity to get a gift from Santa, said Bonita Heeg, executive director of Springfield Rotary’s Services to People with Disabilities Program.

Many families struggle to provide gifts and fun activities for children with disabilities this time of year, she said. It’s not uncommon for residents to approach Heeg and other Rotarians decades later and explain how much the event meant for their families.

“This is a far-reaching party as far as the impact it has on these children,” Heeg said.

The 177 children the event served Monday was the largest the organization has ever hosted, said Mary Jo Leventhal, president of the Springfield Rotary Club. About 130 Rotarians and other volunteers worked together to make the party possible, she said.

Volunteers also collected wish lists from the families of each child, listing three possible gifts the children wanted most. That ensures each child receives a personalized gift they asked for, Leventhal said.

The event is just as important for many of the volunteers. Steve Field has been a member of Rotary Club for years, but has spent his recent winters in South Carolina. Field and his wife Donna fly back to Springfield for a few days each December just to help with the Christmas party.

“It’s important for me to do it, and I’ve done it for a long time,” Field said. “These kids light up, and this is one of the biggest events of the year.”

Pete Noonan has served at the event almost every year for about four decades. The event can be challenging because of the number of children, and some of the challenges they face, he said. But several organizations donate their time and energy because it’s such a bright spot for the students, he said.

Even with the number of children growing each year, Noonan said he tries his best to make a personal connection with every child, even if for just a few seconds.

“It’s a blessing, and I’m just lucky they let me do it,” he said.