Boys Town North Florida: Tree Lighting, Holiday Programs, Chili – Oh My!
Tree Lighting, caroling, chili and more!
Boys Town North Florida greeted the holiday season by welcoming campus youth and families, as well as local community members, to participate in caroling and a chili cook-off during its annual Tree Lighting program on Wednesday, December 14.
The evening’s events kicked off with a welcome to all the children, families and friends of Boys Town by Dena Strickland, Boys Town North Florida Development Director.
“Tonight we celebrate the true Spirit of Christmas as we surround ourselves by family warmth and togetherness,” Strickland said, recognizing the efforts of the gathered Tallahassee community to help Boys Town youth experience a wonderful Christmas.
After Strickland’s remarks, Nathan, a Boys Town residential youth, gave an Invocation and offered a prayer of thanks, which was followed by a special choral performance from the Good Shepherd Catholic Church Men’s Choir during the Tree Lighting Ceremony.
The Leon High School Student Government provided cookies, hot cocoa and cups, peppermints, chocolate, pretzels and other goodies to guests. Boys Town youth helped show guests around the campus by giving tours of their homes to community members.
The guests were also invited to enjoy the different types of chili brought by the five Boys Town residential homes, along with Brunswick Stew provided by Sonny's Bar-B-Q Restaurant. A chili cook-off contest was judged by several Boys Town North Florida board members.
The giving spirit started long before the Tree Lighting, though. Their ongoing “Hope for the Holidays” campaign provided Christmas presents for Boys Town North Florida’s Residential, In-Home Family Services and Foster Family Services youth. The campaign sponsored more than 147 youth.
Christmas Connection, with the support of Catholic Charities, also made the season bright by sponsoring an additional 25 families in the In-Home Family Services program. Sponsorship includes Christmas dinner, stocking the pantry, paper supplies, an outfit for each family member and payment of a needed service, such as a utility bill.