Read the original Dec. 22, 2009 article on nj.com.
Madeline Valle would like nothing more than to take her three children to the mall to visit Santa Claus.
But the Newark mother of three doesn't own a car and doesn't have many opportunities to leave her North Ward community.
So it was with great enthusiasm that Valle brought her children to The North Center's Family Success Center Monday night to pose for pictures with Santa.
"I like to do things with my kid, but I don't have the money," said Valle, whose children are 10, 7, and 6. "Going to the mall is just not something we can easily do."
"We wanted to do something on the holidays to bring families together and encourage more parent-child involvement," said Bohler. "Through these programs, children have an opportunity to interact with other children in the community and parents get to support one another and gain a network and a friendship."
Gloria Nieves, the chair of the center's parent advisory board, said the center started hosting parent-child activities since the summer. Activities include arts and crafts, family barbeques and Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
"We share parental advice when we get together," said Nieves, who has a 10 year old son. "I look forward to seeing everyone. We really like getting together."
Before Santa Claus arrived, 15 children decorated frames with holiday stickers and sang Christmas carols. After posing for pictures, they feasted on holiday treats.
The North Ward Center's Family Success Center is one of 32 such sites across the state, though located mainly in New Jersey's urban areas. The North Ward Center's Family Success Center started operating in June 2007.
"These are exactly the kind of programs we envisioned when we started The Family Success Center," said Adrianne Davis, the executive director of The North Ward Center. "It's about offering programs to strengthen and nourish the family."
