IAHD’s Got (Holiday) Spirit December 26, 2024

❄️The holidays are always a special time here at IAHD. Our day habs do a spectacular job of developing programs and activities that will surely make everyone begin to feel oh so very merry. This article talks about the wonderful things done and memories made throughout our day programs this December.

☕ St. Mary’s day program came up with the sweetest idea to stay warm during the chilly holiday season: a hot chocolate bar! They had multiple kinds of cocoa and toppings for the individuals to indulge in before they played their weekly BINGO games– of course, with a holiday twist!

🎅 The Christmas fun made its way to our Tarrytown day program as well, as they had received a visit from a very special visitor from the North Pole. With help from the Harrison Police Department, our individuals not only got to meet Santa himself, but they all also received a present from his sack of gifts. Thank you to the Harrison PD for coming to visit and distributing gifts like the hardest working elves around!

🎄The halls of our Tarrytown were transformed into a true winter wonderland. The walls were decorated to look like a bright blue sky on a chilly winter day, and there was “snow” that covered the ground and trees. The trees also were decorated with warm colored string lights and some tinsel to make the hall even more festive. Everyone had a great time walking through this beautiful, makeshift outdoor landscape without ever having to face the cold weather outside!

🧦 The IAHD Champions really leaned into the giving spirit of the Christmas season. Some of the members went to the Volunteer NY office down the road in Tarrytown Volunteer, where they made and packaged a small handmade gift for those who live in nursing homes. Of all of the crafts that were completed that day by the volunteers from various day programs, the Champs made about a third of all the “sock cupcakes” that were completed!

🎁The Champions also decided to participate in the USPS Operation Santa, in which they chose a letter written by a family who couldn’t afford to celebrate Christmas this year and bought gifts for them to have under their tree. The group made sure each present was perfectly wrapped before they were boxed up and mailed out, hopefully making one family’s Christmas magical.

🔔 We also held our second annual holiday sing along at Bainbridge in early December! You can read (and hear!) all about it in this article.

We hope all the members of our IAHD community had a wonderful holiday season!