West Flint Optimist Club sponsored one of our favorite events of the year this past Wednesday at Liberty Family Diner: All the elementary students from Michigan School for the Deaf, their family members, and school staff were treated to a pancake breakfast, gifts (specially selected for age, interests, and abilities), and personal attention by “the big guy in the red suit” who let them shake his “jingle bells” and communicated with them in language that they could understand (ASLD). Approximately 26 kids and their parents and teachers, along with the familiar faces of Rex Vernon (MSD Principal), Lynn Sedlacko (Dean of Students), Dave Lawer (Interpreter),Shonda Gleeson (Teacher) and several others enjoyed watching as the children engaged with Santa, opened their gifts and celebrated with each other.
In addition to several members (pictured above), we also had several guests with us for this event: Doug Ford from Acorn Buddies Camp, Natalie Fox from Red Fox Realty (along with her husband), Cynthia Williams, Janet Russell, Rose Schlott, and Becky Flanigan (from Flint Downtown Optimist Club).
We do not have many photos of children because of the appropriate sensitivity of the school for respecting the privacy of the student and their families, but the faces and images will stay in our minds for a long time!
Thank you, MSD and Liberty!