Siouxland residents attend celebration at Briar Cliff

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
December 18, 2003

Briar Cliff University's BCCares held their annual Siouxland Residential Christmas party on Dec. 11 in the St. Francis Center part of the Stark Student Center on the BC campus.

"It's a fun time to celebrate the holidays," said Heather Bagley, BCU sophomore and co-coordinator of the party. "It's a way that Briar Cliff people can also be in the spirit of giving, give different presents and have this awesome, fun party up here."

The Christmas party was for the mentally and physically challenged residents from Siouxland Residential Services, Mid-step Services and Opportunities Unlimited. There were about 75 to 80 residents in attendance at the event.

"I think it's important for the Sioux City community because I think it's a way for them to come up and meet some of our students and be acquainted with our university," said Sister Janet May, OSF, director of campus ministry at Briar Cliff. "A lot of the people in these facilities or group homes don't have a lot of opportunity to get on our campus and to get together with other people from their different houses. It is wonderful for them to come up here and interact with other people. They love it."

The party started between 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. with the arrival of the residents to Briar Cliff. Bev Wharton, president of BCU, welcomed the group to the campus.

"It's a long standing tradition for Briar Cliff," said Wharton. "I think it's important for our community because it gives our students and our employees an opportunity to give back. We saw that today in the students who volunteered and basically spent time with our guests and in all the gifts that our students and employees provided. Seeing the look in the eyes of our guests when they got to talk to Santa was priceless."

An ecumenical prayer service was held before the group went with Briar Cliff students and employees through the lunch line, with food provided by ARAMARK. About 370 meals were donated by students from their meal plans. All of the residents' meals were taken care of by Briar Cliff students.

"It's wonderful for us to reach out in service, and we love working with them and being with them," said May. "They are so open, so appreciative and fun to be with. I think our students need that. They need to be in touch with the people in the larger Siouxland community, so that we're not just an entity sitting up on this cliff and not involved in the city. This is a way for both sides to interact with each other."

The highlight of the day was when Santa, played by BC student Matt Winter, stopped by for a visit to bring each resident a Christmas gift. The residents went up to Santa to receive their gifts and several decided that Santa needed a big hug.

"When I looked into the eyes of the people who participated in the Christmas party, I truly saw the reason for the season," said Bagley.

Clubs, organizations, residence hall floors, individuals, departments and BC's president sponsored gifts for the residents to open. Each gift was donated by one of these people or groups.

"It really gives the Briar Cliff community the opportunity to come together, to share in the Christmas spirit and to ultimately live out the Gospel," said Josh Rickert, BC junior and co-coordinator of the event. "I found that if you put time and energy into something that you are passionate about, the end result will be a wonderful thing."

The Christmas event ended with the singing of Christmas songs and taking pictures with Santa.

"I think the reaction is really positive on both parts because everyone in the end makes a new friend that they can have and say they know someone who goes to Briar Cliff," said Bagley. "They have that connection up here. It gives the students the opportunity to really see where their gift is going."