Christmas will be a little merrier for children who might not otherwise have a package to open this year, thanks to a local non-profit agency and a Great Bend business.
Approximately 40 infants and toddlers served by Sunflower Diversified Service’s Early Education Center (EEC) and Incredible Years (IY) Preschool will benefit from the activity sponsored by Great Bend Coffee, 2015 Lakin. Paul and Barbara Wagner own the business.
“Great Bend Coffee has been our partner in this special Christmas tree display for the last couple of years,” said Denice Degenhardt, EEC teacher. “We are so grateful the Wagners and the community are reaching out to our youngsters again this year.”
The tree is decorated with tags, each representing a child enrolled in the EEC’s early intervention program or the preschool. Gender and age are indicated on the individual tags.
Participants are asked to select a tag and then place a gift under the tree no later than Saturday, Dec. 15.
“We carefully chose the families represented on the tree,” Degenhardt said. “Anyone who participates can be assured the children involved deserve a special gift at Christmas.”
Hours at Great Bend Coffee are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The business also is open from 5:30-8:30 on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Sunflower’s EEC is part of the tiny-k network in Kansas that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and delays. Its preschool is for any child, including those who are developing typically.
The non-profit agency’s service area includes Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.