Hot Springs comes together for Christmas gift giving
<p><strong>Herb, Rattlesnake and Brandon work on piles of presents in the Hot Springs School’s multi-purpose room.</strong></p>
The 5th annual Christmas Extravaganza was held Saturday night at the Hot Springs School. 594 presents were given out along with $470 in gift certificates from Buck’s grocery store, 10 punch pass to soak at the Symes, 1 free massage from Sandra (at the Symes), 2 gift certificates from Fergies Pub & Grill, a rose gold/diamond watch donated by Farmers Insurance and a brand new toaster oven. People over 55 yrs. old were in a drawing for several cash prizes totaling $300. Four of the presents had $25 in them (one dollar bills taped back to back).
Hot Springs residents over 18yrs old were able to attend for $5 to offset the cost of wrapping paper/tape/boxes.
This year the local 4H group assisted in a big way. They arrived at my house at 3:00 and lined up and we sent the presents down the line and filled up two vans and a pick-up and transported the presents to the school. Then they got the tables set up and arranged all the presents in the center.
More 4H Kids went around the room with dice and presents and if the person rolled a 7 or 11 they were given the next present until they were all gone. As this was going on I called ticket numbers to give away the gift certificates and cash. My new husband, Ben Walters, wrapped up a black pencil case and he offered $50 to the lucky person who opened that (or they could keep the case)!
It has been my honor to put this on for my town because I am very blessed to have a good job that not only pays well, but allows me to work from my home here in Hot Springs. After moving, here I noticed that so much was being done for our children but very little for our older residents who may not have jobs any longer or even family; hence the cash awards to people over 55 and the concept of an adult party where they get to act like children and children get to act like parents & serve them.
People had so much fun getting presents and wondering what treasures they had. They were not all great presents; there were gag gifts like home pregnancy tests and at least 150 were from the dollar store but it was the fun of anticipation, of getting a 7 or 11 to get a present and being together.
The most heartwarming thing happened at the end of the night. A little boy about 10 yrs. old came up to me and wanted to give me a dime and I thought he found it so I said “you can keep it”. He said: “No, I want to give it to you to say thank you for letting me come and help you”!