LYNN — Lynn Vocational Technical Institute (LVTI) High School’s SkillsUSA students and The Gregg Neighborhood House teamed up on Saturday to provide a day of holiday joy to more than 60 children and their families.
LVTI’s Chapter of SkillsUSA students and teachers work in tandem to bring the mission to life by focusing on centering school and community awareness on the importance of career and technical education. LVTI’s chapter aims to serve the community by highlighting SkillsUSA, CTE programs, and engendering high-level service projects to support the City of Lynn and beyond. Over the last 10 years, they have focused on linking all three of the major components of SkillsUSA — championships, leadership, and service — by working directly with the community in areas that need service. As a result, the chapter has received local, state, and national recognition for their efforts. Through service projects, they not only apply the tenets of SkillsUSA, but aim to achieve the Core Values of the LPS.
In a long-standing partnership with the Gregg Neighborhood House and as part of their community service and giving back to the children and families of Lynn, SkillsUSA hosts a holiday giving party for more than 60 Gregg House children. Gregg House Program Coordinator and Social Worker help identify families that need support during the holiday season and the SkillsUSA students get to work. The students organize and fundraise for toys, activities, and food to successfully host the event. The week ahead of the event the students wrap gifts, decorate, and prepare to give the children a fun filled party.
This past Saturday, the event took place at the high school. The children, accompanied by their parents or guardians, were teamed up with a SkillsUSA student or a Gregg House Staff member to go station to station and participate in the day’s activities. The children made holiday themed arts and crafts, decorated gingerbread cookies, enjoyed pizza, and sat with Santa. SkillsUSA also provided every parent and guardian with a bag, for every child, filled to the brim with gifts for Christmas morning.
The Gregg Neighborhood House is grateful for the event and the families it supports. “This event truly represents what Christmas is all about. Seeing the high school students put this on each year and not only setting up the event and running it, but genuinely creating an experience that the families will cherish for years to come is absolutely incredible to watch,” Amanda Almond, Gregg House program coordinator, said.
Gregg House Social Worker Vianca Rodriguez said, “Events like this mean so much to the kids and families at Gregg House. For the kids, it’s a Christmas they’ll never forget — something they’ll look back on for years. For the parents, especially those going through tough times, it’s such a big help and a reminder that they’re not alone. I’m just so thankful we can do this and give our families the support and resources they really need.”
To support the Gregg Neighborhood House and/or the LVTI SkillsUSA programs, visit www.gregghouse.org and www.skillsusalvti.org/index/index.html.
