Williamsburg—Classes upon classes of wide-eyed elementary students poured into the gymnasiums of Boston, Whitley East and Pleasant View elementary schools. The students were awe struck as they eagerly shopped for a Christmas gift for mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa. The gifts were provided by University of the Cumberlands’ Mountain Outreach program to help the young people to understand the true meaning of giving.

Mountain Outreach Director Marc Hensley; Assistant Director Jonathan Bowman; team members Dirk Berta, of Williamsburg, and Tracy Taphouse, of Dacula, Ga.: and UC student-athletes from the baseball and football teams volunteered their time to help the youngsters to choose just the right gift. After the gifts were carefully selected, the UC volunteers wrapped the gifts and helped the children write their name on the gift and well as the recipient’s name.

“We want the children to have the opportunity to experience the joy of giving. It makes the children just as happy to give the gifts as to receive them and that alone is magical,” Hensley said. The MO program raises funds throughout the year with which to purchase the gifts for the 775 elementary students to give to their loved ones for Christmas.