Making Spirits Bright: College Students Deliver Holiday Joy to Local Preschoolers

Laughter and shrieks of joy filled Fredericksburg’s Walker-Grant Center this week as preschoolers tore into vividly wrapped gift boxes, revealing colorful hats, gloves and toys featuring their favorite characters – Bluey, Spiderman, Barbie and Hello Kitty among them. “I’ve always wanted this!” exclaimed one child, clutching a toy, while another giggled over their bubblegum-flavored toothpaste.

This scene of holiday cheer was made possible by the University of Mary Washington’s annual gift box drive, organized by Community Outreach and Resources (COAR). The event not only delivered joy to local children, but also provided UMW students with invaluable skills in leadership, teamwork and community engagement.

Months of preparation led up to this moment, with UMW students coordinating every detail, from recruiting and organizing donations to wrapping boxes in festive paper. Over 300 gift boxes were filled by the campus community this year and delivered to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania public schools, benefiting children in Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative programs. Each box contained essentials like hats, gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as toys and art supplies to brighten the holidays.

“The kids just light up when they see Santa and open the gift boxes,” said Megan Dougherty, health and family engagement coordinator for Fredericksburg City Schools. “That’s what makes this one of my favorite programs of the school year.”

UMW students and Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees hand deliver gift boxes to local preschoolers. L-R: Dewees, Sarah Hybl ’25, Emily Thomas ’27 (in front), Emily Helpinstill ’27, Matthew Cabrera ’27, Knox McKinley ’26. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

The event was organized by Mary Wash Community Outreach and Resources (COAR) team, including McKinley ’26 (pictured), COAR staff director. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Gift boxes were delivered to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania public schools, benefiting children in Head Start and Virginia Preschool Initiative programs. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

Each gift box contained essentials like hats, gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as toys and art supplies to brighten the holidays for preschoolers, pictured with UMW student Matthew Cabrera ’27. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

The combination of gifts and holiday magic created moments of pure delight for the preschoolers, pictured with UMW student Sarah Hybl ’25. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

This year’s event featured contributions from a talented group of UMW students and COAR team members. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

For UMW students, the joy on the children’s faces is a rewarding conclusion to weeks of effort and learning. “Participating in the gift box drive has been such an amazing experience,” said Emily Helpinstill, a sophomore English major and linguistics minor who serves as COAR’s social media coordinator. “As part of COAR, I have been able to help more and more people through our weekly and annual events.”

Students like Helpinstill gain practical skills, from event planning and collaboration to fostering community partnerships and understanding social responsibility. These experiences also deepen their appreciation for programs like Head Start, which provides education, food, transportation and other resources for preschool-aged children.

“As a future teacher, this program could make a huge difference for my students and their families, which only makes this drive more special,” Helpinstill added.

UMW junior Knox McKinley, who serves as COAR staff director, also noted a fondness for the experience. “This is a wonderfully unique event that involves students, staff and faculty alike, which I think brings us all together in an exciting way,” said McKinley, a sociology and women’s and gender studies double major.

The event at the Walker-Grant Center was a festive affair, with UMW students dressed as elves assisting Santa, who handed out gifts and led songs like “Jingle Bells” in a space decked out with sparkling snowmen and holiday décor. For the preschoolers, the combination of gifts and holiday magic created moments of pure delight.

UMW students joined together at a “wrapping party” to cover gift boxes with festive paper and gaining practical skills, like event planning, along the way.

Emily Thomas ’27 (pictured) and many other UMW students put in hours of work to coordinate the event, from recruiting and organizing donations to wrapping boxes.

Mary Wash students pose with over 300 gift boxes that were filled with donations from the campus community.

“My favorite part of this project is the way the community comes together to support it,” Center for Community Engagement Director Sarah Dewees said. “It shows how generous and creative the faculty, staff and students are at Mary Washington.”

This year’s event featured contributions from a talented group of UMW students and COAR team members, including Sarah Hybl, a senior English major pursuing a secondary education licensure; Emily Thomas, a sophomore historic preservation major; and Matthew Cabrera, a sophomore business administration major. Together, they exemplify the collaborative spirit that drives the gift box initiative.

With every wrapped box, UMW students not only brightened the holidays for area children but prepared themselves to be collaborative and caring leaders of the future.

For more information about student-led services programs at UMW, visit the Community Outreach and Resources webpage.