The University of Tennessee at Martin chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity came together this week to bring some Christmas spirit to children who were involved with the Youth Villages program.

The Youth Villages of Dyersburg, a non-profit organization that helps foster children, held its ninth annual Christmas party on Monday night to brighten up the holidays for the 41 children in its program. Sigma Phi Epsilon helped out the program by organizing activities for the children and buying gifts.

The event coordinator and placement counselor for Youth Villages says that the party was a success. “The fraternity helped out a whole lot. I was so thrilled to hear that they wanted to get involved with this project,” says Carrie Petty. “We have had Christmas parties before, but we have never had anything this big.”

The night began with the foster parents and their children arriving in the party room. The first thing that caught the children’s eyes was the stacks of gifts that aligned the walls. “There was well in excess of 300 gifts brought here tonight,” says Petty. “Of the 42 children that we have in the program, Sigma Phi Epsilon sponsored 32 of them.

It is difficult to put an exact number on the amount of money spent towards gifts, but each child was given about $75 worth of presents, which makes the fraternities contribution somewhere around $2400,” Petty added.

After everyone arrived, Mike Penna of SigEp led all of the children and some of the adults in a game of musical chairs. Tucker Leigh, a SigEp from Jackson, played the music for the events. Following a prayer, the attendees of the event were served dinner made by Steinlowe Catering. When the plates were empty and the mouths full, Leigh caught attention by playing ‘Santa Clause is Coming to Town.’

Parents of Sigma Phi Epsilon member Tony Beal arrived dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Clause. The children turned their heads to see Santa. Some of them even ran to hug him. Santa and Mrs. Clause took their seats in the front of the room. The children’s names were called out in alphabetical order as they sat in Santa’s lap for a picture and then received their gifts.

Sigma Phi Epsilon members and guests played Christmas carols in the background as the presents were distributed. Petty said that this event is so important for the kids. “When you think of Christmas, you think of family. It is a difficult time both emotionally and mentally for these kids, because a lot of them are not with their birth families.” “Events like this help deter the behavioral problems that we experience this time of year as well,” adds Petty.

Other organizations and individuals in the Dyersburg community that contributed to this event were Ermco, Polyone, Abe’s Restaurant, Moddy Wadley Toyota, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Ike Peel and Martha Lannon. Sigma Phi Epsilon coordinators of this event were Mike Penna, Rodel Cacas, Tucker Leigh and Rodrigo Aguilar.