CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - Volunteers with nonprofit Student Santas will serve their annual Christmas Day meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, December 25.
At Shawnee Park Center in Cape Girardeau, there will be a free meal for people in need, donated and prepared by Century Casino.
There will also be pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, children’s activities, music and donated toys.
There is no registration requirement.
Jennifer Gast said she founded Student Santas about 20 years ago.
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“We have helped nearly 45,000 children in and around the state of Missouri,” Gast said. “We’ve helped Illinois, Kentucky and some of those surrounding close states. It’s had a huge impact.”
Gast said the idea came to her on Christmas morning when her children were young.
“I felt God speak to my heart, and I knew I wanted to do something for all of the children in need,” Gast said. “I knew that there were kids rushing into their own living rooms, finding nothing under the tree, and how devastating that must be for parents to have to go through that.”
Gast said she first launched the project while teaching at Southeast Missouri State University.
“I gave bonus points for any student that would like to bring a toy, and it was overwhelming, the response. I ended up getting 50, 60, 70 toys at a time per student, and so it just grew from then.”
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Gast said the growth of Student Santas’ mission is a reflection of the need in the area.
“There are so many homes that I have been to, kids are sleeping on floors, there’s not enough food in the house. I have parents that actually walk me to their kitchens and they will open up the cabinets and there’s nothing. They have no food.”
Gast said for 2025, the group is expecting a large crowd, with good weather in the forecast.
The annual meal gets the whole family involved, with Gast’s daughter, Laurel, participating.
“Just seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when they get the toys and how happy it makes them, it just shows that Jesus really is the reason for the season and that this is what it’s all about,” Laurel Gast said.
Student Santas takes requests for toys for children in need.
People can send in letters on behalf of their own family or one they know with the following information:
- Number, names and gender of children
- Ages (must be 12 or younger)
- List of items children like, want or need
Letters must include the address where the items should be delivered and a working phone number.
They must be postmarked by Dec. 1 to the following address:
Student Santas, PO Box 641, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702
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Facebook messages or emails will not be accepted as requests for assistance. Volunteers also want to hear from the sender about their story and why assistance is important to them this year.
Volunteers with Student Santas can “adopt” one of these requests and deliver or donate toys to fulfill them.
Donations can be gently-used clothes, new toys or money.
People can get in touch with Student Santas through the group’s Facebook page.
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