DominikaKouassi

The Nebraska Foundation for Visually Impaired Children hosted the Ruth Sokolof Christmas party for the 64th time on Dec. 8. This long-lasting tradition is inspired by Ruth Sokolof and Bernice Wolfson, who helped establish Omaha’s Children’s Sight Center Preschool at the Beth El Jewish Synagogue in. They started the Christmas parties so that their students had an opportunity to give gifts during the holiday season.

As of 2024, the Christmas parties are run by Karen Sokolof Javitch. Marian has participated in the Christmas parties for 10+ years and has always had an overflowing amount of volunteers to help out. For some students, this service opportunity goes beyond just volunteering. Since her sophomore year, senior Mia Marcelino has participated in the Christmas parties and has enjoyed her experience
every time. Inspired by her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Marcelino has always felt inclined to help others, especially those with disabilities. “My grandmother had Alzheimer’s and she really missed out on a lot because she couldn’t remember a lot,” Marcelino said.

Marcelino seeks comfort in volunteering because she is “able to help other people, knowing that it does make an impact…even though they can’t see what is happening, they can feel it, and that’s what is important; knowing that there is someone there.. and that people care, ” Marcelino said. She believes that people with disabilities should not be treated differently and that “their disability does not define them,” Marcelino said. “There isn’t much preparation that the volunteers do before the day of the event,” Marcelino said.

That day is always the second Sunday of December, and all volunteers and attendees meet at Westroads Mall around noon to begin the shopping experience. “We each get a check for $100 and spend whatever the visually impaired person would like,” Marcelino said. After receiving the checks, “We go shopping with them, it’s super fun, and I love doing it because it makes a big impact… they don’t usually get to go shopping for themselves or their family. It’s a very rewarding experience and I want to keep doing it because it makes their day and my day,” Marcelino said.

Her “favorite part is seeing the bright glow on kids’ faces when you get what they would like and being present with them and knowing that there is someone there with them to make the spirit of Christmas alive in their life,” she said. The Ruth Sokolof Christmas parties have an impact on not only the visually impaired attendees but also the volunteers who help them shop for gifts.