Family & Children’s Services Women in Recovery’s Continuing Care Team takes pride in annual traditions such as a holiday party. Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, a large in-person holiday party was not possible. However, the Continuing Care Team enthusiastically transformed the annual holiday party into a holiday drive-thru event. In all, 113 women and 198 children participated in or attended the event via car as well as obtained gift cards, presents and food.
The bottom level of the parking garage near the Women in Recovery facility was converted into a Candy Land Adventure. The entrance of the parking garage showcased a lollipop forest with giant lollipops. Lights, ribbons, inflatable gummy bears and creative Candy Land signs at each station were located throughout the area. The sounds of Christmas music can be heard as volunteers danced and waved as cars passed through. Every participant was greeted and given a checklist for each of the following stations: crafts, thank you cards, photos, gifts and food.
At the craft station, each family received a gingerbread decorating kit and gingerbread collage kits compliments of the Philbrook Art Museum. The thank-you card station was a place to drop-off thank-you cards for community donors. The outdoor photo station was the only station in which participants were allowed to briefly exit their vehicle for a fun holiday photo. Volunteer Denise Spiker, who is an active member of the Continuing Care Community Mentoring Program, came prepared with all the equipment necessary for a professional holiday photo! An added bonus was Mimi Tarrasch, executive senior director of Women in Recovery, who popped into the photos with her ever-present enthusiastic style. Thanks to generous donors in the Tulsa community, the gift station was fully stocked with wrapped age-appropriate books and games for every child in attendance. The final station of the day was the food station where each family received a bag of groceries compliments of Tulsa community partner Iron Gate. Participants turned in their event checklist at the end of the drive-thru, which served as their ticket for the door prizes.
“There is tons of gratitude and praise from the WIR Grad Community for the holiday party this year,” said WIR alumni board member Kandice Nowak. “Thank you to everyone who made our day so special!”
Women in Recovery is thankful for the Continuing Care Team, staff members and volunteers who worked shifts during the event as well as the items given by local donors.