The holidays have come and gone, but the joy the volunteers from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine brought to children at Hamilton Elementary School still remains. In three short weeks the students, staff and faculty at SCNM donated more than 200 toys and, with the help of Hamilton’s principal, staff, teachers and parent volunteers, the children enjoyed a holiday party complete with decorations, wrapped gifts and holiday treats.

Children opening their gifts during holiday party.		Volunteers from SCNM and Hamilton.

There was a quick and overwhelming response when volunteers were needed to pull together this event. Students, staff and faculty took time out of their holiday break to wrap more than 200 presents, bake goodies, and help with the party. On the day of the holiday party volunteers came dressed in holiday attire, some even wearing a Santa hat or reindeer antlers. The room was filled with the laughter of children. Volunteers could be found playing cars, Mr. Potato Head, or Barbie while Dr. Mittman, SCNM President, and Dr. Baral, supervising physician at Hamilton’s clinic, tossed a football with a group of boys.

This holiday season the donation of toys was especially heartfelt by all at SCNM since Hamilton Elementary is an extended site for clinical training for SCNM students. The volunteers were truly rewarded from interacting with the children, seeing the excitement on their faces and hearing their laughter. It has been said time and time again, but the true meaning of the holiday season is not what you receive but what you give, and the happiness one person can give to another is priceless.