Many families in Northwest Indiana started their holiday season off by spending the evening with Santa Claus on Friday, December 13. Geminus, a Regional Care Group member, hosted its annual Christmas celebration at Living Hope Church.
Kristin Chamberlain, director of family services at Geminus, has helped prepare this event for the past several years. She always looks forward to seeing how the kids can jump-start their holiday festivities at this event.
“We put on this event each year for families throughout Lake County,” Chamberlain said. “Our Christmas event is one of the biggest activities we put together. The kids can come to take a picture with Santa, get a toy, and enjoy some refreshments as well.”
Bill Trowbridge, CEO of Regional Health Systems, loves the atmosphere that comes from this annual event.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Trowbridge said. “Not only do people come here to see Santa Claus and leave with a nice little gift, but it’s a great space for us to celebrate as Christmas is nearing. We want people to realize that we’re all in this together for the holiday season.”
The gifts were presented to children under the age of 14 and were funded by the Indiana Department of Child Services. A team of elves helped distribute the gifts and manage the line for pictures with Santa Claus.
Twan Stokes, regional manager for the Indiana Department of Child Services, finds the most pleasure in seeing the growth of this event over time.
“As more families come to the events that we hold and tell others, we’ve seen a vast increase in the turnout,” Stokes said. “We want every kid to know that they’re loved and cared for. Whether they celebrate Christmas or not, we’re motivated to provide this opportunity to share a little bit of joy with other people in the community.”
Geminus takes pride in supporting the needs of families in Lake County, especially those who are less fortunate during the holidays. Doug Thames, program manager at Geminus, is ecstatic about every opportunity they can put together an event to help out these families.
“The reason that we're in this position is because of families in need,” Thames said. “It means a lot for us to see families have the ability to get things that they wouldn't normally be able to do. Giving the kids a chance to see Santa Claus and seeing the joy on their faces brightens our hearts and gives us a good kick-off for the Christmas season.”
Living Hope Church has been the host site for multiple events with Geminus in the past. Nicholas Neal, vice president of community services at Geminus, was thrilled to bring their holiday celebration back to this location.
“It’s always nice to go somewhere that’s familiar and work with the church here,” Neal said. “Our organization aligns with Living Hope Church because we’re both all about the community. We’re grateful whenever we can partner with organizations who have that focus.”
Neal considers this to be the signature event of the year for Geminus. Not only does it recognize the holidays, but it helps get their team excited for what’s to come next year.
The main goal for Geminus in their Evening with Santa celebration is to spread positivity to hundreds of people in Northwest Indiana. Being able to widen the smile on so many faces is possibly the greatest gift there is during the holidays.
“The smiling kids are why we do this event and what makes it so special,” Chamberlain said. “It’s even more heartwarming to see how grateful they are to receive just one gift. We all need that uplifting holiday spirit. It’s great to see that we’re making an impact on the kids and families in Lake County.”
To learn more about Regional Care Group or Geminus, you can visit their websites.
