Thursday, December 9, 2010 » Last Saturday morning eight-year-old Michele jumped up and down when she saw Sarah Tabb (jr) at her door. The girl was screaming “Oh my gosh!” and running around, knowing what was coming: presents just for her.
Tabb is a member of ReaLife, a ministry run by Taylor and Indiana Wesleyan University students that runs a “Vacation Bible School” style program for kids grades kindergarten through fifth grade, according to ReaLife Co- Director Katie Hollensteiner (sr). Every year ReaLife runs a Christmas drive for its kids.
All the presents are delivered to the kids’ homes. It’s up to the parents whether to let their kids open the gifts then or to wait until Christmas.
“It’s the best time to just … spend time with them in their homes,” Hollensteiner said. “It’s a really good way to be able to minister and get to know their families.”
In November, ReaLife volunteers gave the kids’ parents Christmas gift request forms. These forms were then placed in IWU and Taylor, much like an angel tree. Students chose which gifts they wanted to buy, then returned them to the table in the Barnes Student Center or to Taylor.
Hollensteiner said that many ReaLife kids are from low-income families. This is often the only way parents can provide Christmas gifts for their children.
“The need locally is huge. [Marion] is like a small town with inner-city needs,” said Tabb who has been involved with ReaLife for three years.
Though the need is big, ReaLife has a hard time advertising its gift drive and other events, because it is not recognized as an IWU-affiliated ministry, said Hollensteiner.
For this reason, IWU’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter teamed up with ReaLife in advertising its gift drive. The organization president Maryn Young (sr) said PRSSA wants to be known for more than just events like Mr. Wildcat.
“We’re a baby organization this year and we’re … deciding what do we want PRSSA to be on campus,” Young said. “A major component, I think, is service and getting people involved in the community.”
Hollensteiner came to PRSSA, presenting the collaboration in one of the student organization’s meetings. Afterward, Young and other PRSSA members decided it would be a great way to promote community outreach, said Young.
PRSSA has spread information about the ReaLife gift exchange through its social media and by word of mouth. The organization has also reserved rooms, sent out emails and provided a table in the Student Center for the gifts to be dropped off.
With PRSSA’s help, all the gift request forms were taken, and all ReaLife kids got presents last Saturday.
Hollensteiner said, however, that there is still a family in the Marion community in need of Christmas gifts. She said there is a single mom with 11 children, with only three that are ReaLife age and are receiving Christmas gifts. Because the mom doesn’t work, she cannot provide gifts for the other eight children. Hollensteiner said anyone wanting to buy gifts for this family, should e-mail ReaLife at realife@taylor.edu.
ReaLife also needs semester-long volunteers — but only those willing to commit, said Tabb. A lot of these kids lack stability in their lives. The ministry is looking for men in particular, as there are some ladies leading male small groups. Volunteers meet Tuesdays at 5 p.m. at Wildcat and are back on campus by 8:30 p.m.
“We have such a community in need right outside our doors,” Hollensteiner said. “ReaLife is so unique because it’s a way to bring Taylor University and Indiana Wesleyan together with the same mindset.”