Middlebury Institute Staff Take Joy in “Gift of Giving”

The non-profit organization that runs this project is called “The Christmas Project” and was established in 1978 by a woman named Gladys Anderson from Watsonville. The Christmas Project began in 1978 in response to the needs of many children in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, including children served by Child Protective Services. “The story goes,” shares Naomi Braswell, the staff member who brought the initiative to the Staff Advisory Council, “that Gladys Anderson met Maria, a twelve-year-old girl who wanted a doll for Christmas. She had never had a doll and her mother could not afford to buy one. After telling her office about Maria, a colleague brought a doll to work. Gladys’ children gathered toys to share, and The Christmas Project was born. Since that time, people from the community have volunteered countless hours to help with the Christmas Project. Their word-of-mouth efforts have brought Christmas joy to so many!!”

The Christmas Project provides toys, gifts, and food certificates to children in need. Each family member has the opportunity to make a wish request. In addition to gifts each family is given a food certificate to help brighten their holiday meal. Volunteers deliver the beautifully wrapped gifts to the residents of the migrant labor camps in Monterey/Santa Cruz County.

“This year, through our MIIS community’s heartwarming generosity and good heartedness, we will bring some joy and comfort to 98 children and adults,” Braswell says. “In the past 4 years, we have helped make it possible for this program to bring such joy to nearly 500 children and their families!”

Braswell says she hopes to continue facilitating this community event with the help of many staff members who volunteer time and effort wrapping gifts and organizing submissions, such as Pam Venture and Paz Rondez from the Records Office.