The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. Holds Successful Santa’s Workshop

The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. Holds Successful Santa’s Workshop

The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. held its annual Santa’s workshop Dec. 4 at the Phoenix Ballroom. The event was even more successful this year than ever before with more than 150 participants, including children of all ages and their parents.

Links leaders decided to offer the workshop as an outreach project.

“We did not charge an admission fee this year because we wanted every child in the community to participate,” said Links President Josette Ayres. “Previously we’ve charged more than $25. I thought it was well worth the sacrifice.”

The workshop included refreshments, pictures with Santa, storytelling and crafts. It was funded through generous donations from Wal-Mart, Waco Art Center, Oakbrook Farms, and Mars Chocolate.

“We would not have been able to provide such an elaborate event free to the community without our generous sponsors,” said Sonya Todd, this year’s chair. “Activities included a wonderfully, elaborate gingerbread house, Christmas card making and cup cake decorating.”

The event organizers believe children from all walks of life benefited from the festive occasion.

“It really touched my heart to see the excitement in their faces when they saw rows and rows of gingerbread houses and cupcakes,” said Vashon Sutherland, Waco Links PR chair. “Many said they had never had the opportunity to see a real gingerbread house before. It almost makes you want to cry.”

The Links, Inc. founded in 1946, is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.  The Waco Chapter of the Links, Inc, was founded in 1974 and is proud to be a contributing member of the Central Texas community.