Lynn special needs students celebrate Christmas

LYNN – Christmas came early for Lynn Public Schools special needs children Tuesday as over 300 students were handed presents, free pizza and a visit with Santa during the annual Special Needs Department Christmas Party at Sacred Heart School.A tradition started by the Lynn Kiwanis Club and now carried on by local businessmen David Solimine Jr. and Mark Amirault, special needs students have been attending the Christmas party in some form for nearly two decades.Complete with holiday balloons, a Christmas tree and decorations, organizers decked out Sacred Heart’s gym for the event. A disc jockey spun Christmas favorites as the students and teachers ate pizza, but the real party began when Santa Claus dropped by to hand out presents and meet with the kids.”The kids really like it, a lot of them bring little notes for Santa,” said Amirault.Amirault and Solimine have been part of the holiday party since the Kiwanis Club began sponsoring it 20 years ago. When the Lynn chapter of the club disbanded earlier this decade, the holiday party went with it until Amirault and Solimine decided to step up.The two men now front the bill for the entire party, buying pizza, drinks and presents for every student, along with renting the DJ and covering other expenses along the way.The event used to take place at the Salvation Army, but has since outgrown that space, sparking the move to Sacred Heart.”This is my Christmas party to myself,” said Amirault. “When you see those kids in the wheelchairs smile when they see Santa?”Along with food and fun, Solimine and Amirault also purchase presents for the students. The gifts are not just generic girl or boy presents, the two men collect lists from the special needs teachers, and purchase what each student requests from Santa.