114 Matawan-Aberdeen Families Treated To A Christmas Celebration

MATAWAN, NJ — The true meaning of the holiday season was on full display Tuesday evening as the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District hosted its first Winter Wonderland holiday feast.

This was where more than 100 local families in need were invited to a meal, and children given gifts and holiday cheer. The district's charity, MARSD Cares, which supports students and staff in need, hosted the event.

While the holidays are a time of joy, they can also be difficult financially and emotionally for some families. In past years, MARSD Cares provided gift cards to families in need around the holidays.

This year, it was the idea of MARSD Director of Student Services Jennifer Steffich to do something more: She came up with the idea to host a Winter Wonderland holiday feast.

Forty volunteers wearing Santa hats and other festive attire spread holiday cheer while leading the families through various crafts and activities in the Matawan Regional High School on Tuesday night, Dec. 17. The highlight of the night was when the Matawan Fire Department stopped by with a very special visitor: Santa Claus. Children lined the cafeteria windows to watch as Santa arrived, not with the jingling of sleigh bells but with the cheerful horn of the fire engine. After his grand entrance, students and their families posed for photos with Santa at the festive photo booth.

Live music courtesy of the Matawan Regional High School jazz ensemble and the chorus brought holiday tunes to the attendees. Several volunteers danced along to the beat with groups of children, some dressed as elves and other holiday characters.

Each family left the event carrying a sack of gifts. Approximately 400 gifts were distributed to the 114 families in attendance. Local residents and the Aberdeen Police Benevolent Association donated money to buy the toys. A donation from Maschio’s Food Services, the food provider for MARSD, covered the holiday feast. Families enjoyed a salad bar, pasta with meatballs and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Candy canes and other treats adorned the tables.

“We cannot say ‘thank you’ enough to the community for lending their time, talents and resources to make this a memorable experience for students and their families,” said Matawan-Aberdeen Regional superintendent Nelyda Perez. “The holidays are about connecting with our friends and loved ones. Together, we’re able to use those connections to benefit others and to build new connections in our communities. Again, ‘thank you’ to all the exceptional volunteers for making a lasting impact.”

“This was truly a community effort,” Steffich said. “I hope the Winter Wonderland becomes an annual tradition for the Matawan-Aberdeen community so we can help more students and their families enjoy the holiday season. I hope that with more volunteers and local business partners we can continue to assist our families.”

For three years MARSD Cares has been supporting students and staff in need by collecting donations. Fundraisers, like when staff wear jeans in exchange for a donation, help support the effort year-round. Then, when a staff member or student goes through a loss of any kind, MARSD Cares can step in to provide gift cards, food or other needed items.

Anyone interested in providing a monetary donation to MARSD Cares can contact Darlene Gallagher, Confidential Executive Secretary, at 732-705-4007 or dgallagher@marsd.org.