Living Hope hosted more than a dozen Christmas parties in the first week of December, with each event reflecting the unique personality of the community it honored. Guests included Living Hope staff, home-based caregivers and clients, and children in Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Muizenberg/Capricorn and Red Hill. There were also celebrations for the staff of Living Hope Capri, the staff and clients of the Health Care Centre, and the staff and clients of Living Grace.

Adult guests dined on a hearty breakfast or lunch, played games, and heard a moving presentation of the Ray Boltz song “Thank You (For Giving to the Lord),” More than 1,500 children attended the afternoon parties, where they enjoyed food, games, prizes, singing and dancing, face painting and inflatable bounce houses. All guests went home with a special gift package of hygiene products.

The Life Skill Educators (LSEs) planned the children’s parties for their respective communities. The Masi party alone drew more than 800 children and featured bounce houses and freshly popped popcorn. In Ocean View, the festivities included water slides and rides on four-wheel all-terrain vehicles. Capricorn featured a carnival theme, complete with clown performances by LSEs and bobbing for prizes in a juice- and jelly-filled pool. Red Hill’s party took place on Scarborough Beach, where kids held relay races and waded into the chilly waters of the Atlantic. Every party was an unforgettable experience for the children and a tangible expression oflove by the LSEs who serve them.

The parties were coordinated and staged by an Extreme Response work team and assisted by volunteers from the local area and abroad. Much joy, laughter and gratitude was evident throughout the week, reflecting the widespread impact that Living Hope has on the people of the Cape Peninsula.