Club wraps 150 gifts to deliver to CL children

The Canyon Lake Family Matters Club, with the support of community volunteers, has successfully wrapped over 150 gifts for local children. These gifts, which were on the wish lists of Canyon Lake kids, will be delivered by Santa’s elves this week.

The club organized a gift-wrapping session where volunteers dedicated their time to prepare the presents. The gifts were made possible through the generosity of donations from the Ugly Sweater Poker Run and other fundraising events hosted by the club.

Each child in the lake will also receive a personalized response from Santa or one of his elves, along with magical reindeer food.

Jeannie Hoonirun wraps one of the 150 gifts the Canyon Lake Family Matters Club is distributing the Canyon Lake children this week. Children wrote letters to Santa and dropped them off at the club’s mailbox. More than a dozen volunteers wrapped the pile of gifts Sunday. Photo provided by Shawna Bowen

“It is a hectic time of year and having so many volunteers take time from their own Christmas activities to come out and help wrap and deliver gifts warms my heart and really makes me smile,” Family Matters Club Founder Shawna Bowen said. “Special thanks go out to Elyse Linn, Jeannie Hoonirun, Dawn Rankins, Shawna and Trey Bowen, Donna Kupke, Linda Medved, Cheri Stone Zachary, Christie and Samantha Hall, Sandie Humphrey, Jan Meyer, Adessa Walker, and Pam, Laney and Steve DeBry.”

Jeannie Hoonnirun, club president, shared her joy in shopping for the gifts, especially noting the involvement of local teen Jayden Steeber. The club also acknowledged the community donations that contributed to fulfilling Santa’s Wish List for the children.

“Christmas is a time of giving,” Dawn Rankins said “Seeing the amount of love that was poured out on Sunday while wrapping gifts for the kiddos was a wonderful thing to experience.”