UNC Asheville Students Ring in the Holidays with Party for Head Start Centers

Head Start preschooler McKenzie Webb’s eyes lit up as she opened her holiday gift -- a toy tea set from UNC Asheville senior literature major Ashley Lusk. Classmate Quran Shabazz-Benjamin rushed over to help Webb rip open the paper.

The same scene happened over and over again across the room as 140 Hillcrest and Pisgahview Head Start preschoolers received presents from UNC Asheville students, faculty and staff. Now in its eighth year, the annual holiday party was held on Tuesday.

The party began with an hour of entertainment by musicians, singers, cloggers and clowns followed by a sack lunch. During the party, children also stood shyly in line to whisper Christmas wishes to Santa Claus, played by UNC Asheville Associate Professor of Chemistry Charles James.

Lusk, a 21-year-old Charlotte native, smiled as she watched Webb and Shabazz-Benjamin play with the tea set together as they ate their sandwiches. Lusk used her own money to buy the gift and spent the morning playing and talking with the girls.

Diamond Shands gets a piggy-back ride from junior Rebecca Schuyler

"It’s nice to do something for these kids and they are so appreciative," Lusk said. "I was lucky to get lots of toys for Christmas when I was growing up. I feel like now that I can, I should give back."

This big volunteer event is coordinated by UNC Asheville Literature professor Peter Caulfield. In 1996, Caulfield was on off-campus scholarly assignment writing a work of fiction. One scene in the story was to take place in a Head Start Center. Because he wasn’t familiar with the program, Caulfield arranged a visit to the Hillcrest Head Start Center to observe the class. "I got hooked on the kids immediately," he said. Caulfield returned to volunteer every Friday while he was on sabbatical. When he came back to campus, Caulfield began raising money to buy books for students at the Center. Soon he was asked to coordinate the Center’s annual holiday party. It’s been a UNC Asheville tradition ever since.

"The students get a huge kick out of it," said Caulfield. "My favorite part is standing back and watching the UNC Asheville students and the kids from Head Start playing and talking together. It’s just wonderful."

Media Contact:

• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526

Photo credits: Larry White