Santa in the House for Christmas Party for Young, Disadvantaged Kids Thursday

Santa in the House for Christmas Party for Young, Disadvantaged Kids Thursday

WASHINGTON, DC - Characters from the classic tale "The Nutcracker" will join Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) for the Annual Capitol Hill Christmas Party, Thursday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., in room 345 of the Cannon House Office Building (Independence & New Jersey Avenues, SE), where 250 disadvantaged children will be treated to a healthy, but delicious, lunch and entertainment, and then receive warm down jackets and a toy from Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a few elves. The children, invited from community organizations, including The Children's Center, the United Planning Organization, Children of Mine, the Edward C. Mazique Parent Child Center, and Noyes Elementary School, will dine on sandwiches, fruit, veggies, cupcakes and fruit juice while being entertained by mascots from the Washington Nationals, D.C. United, Dr. BEAR from Children's Hospital, and dancers from the Washington Ballet's "The Nutcracker" roaming the room. In a first this year, the children also will be treated to a puppet show. "We are bringing on Christmas for our D.C. kids with gusto this year, the year of the ‘Great Recession'," Norton said. "Our Christmas party this year must be dedicated not only to making these small tots happy for Christmas, but also to encouraging them to believe things will get better, especially for them."

Norton said the especially hard times for families this year means "we must continue well past Christmas to focus on the extra burdens that hard times bring to families." In January, Norton's Commission on Black Men and Boys, chaired by former D.C. Chief of Police Isaac Fulwood, in conjunction with the Lawrence Executive Alliance of Professionals (The L.E.A.P. Foundation) will provide a day of mentoring and networking for 17 young fathers, ages 16-22, including a shopping trip to buy appropriate attire for job interviews.