67 rolls of wrapping paper, 75 volunteers and over 600 gifts that went to 278 newly arrived refugees in Wichita. For the second year in the row the IRC in Wichita hosted our Holiday Giving Tree. The Giving Tree was an opportunity for sponsors to choose the name of an individual or family to purchase gifts for. Gifts were then dropped off at the IRC office where they were wrapped and delivered to IRC clients by IRC volunteers.

In October, IRC clients were given an opportunity to sign up to participate in the program and in doing so, they were also given the opportunity to tell the IRC what they needed and what they might like to have. These suggestions were given to sponsors who came into the IRC where they were matched with the name of a family to buy new gifts for. In an overwhelming, show of support from the Wichita community all of the names of individuals and families who signed up for the program were chosen to receive and were given gifts.  

The unwrapped gifts were brought back to the IRC where they were wrapped by teams of volunteers the following week.  More than 70 volunteers came to the IRC where they wrapped the packages for the families. Included among the groups of volunteers was a Boy Scout group, a youth group, as well as several families and individuals as well.

“It was fun to see the gifts come in and great to see how thoughtful the gifts that were donated were for each of the clients.”  It has been one of the highlights of working with the IRC.” Said, Nayu Wilson, In-Kind Donation Coordination VISTA.

The following week, volunteers worked together to deliver the gifts. “Delivering the gifts was my favorite part of the gift drive. Getting a hug or seeing a smile from our clients made the hard work that went into organizing the gift drive worth it.”, Wilson Said.

For more information about how you may volunteer or donate to the IRC, please email [email protected].