The Bob Ruud Community Center will be transformed into a festive Victorian park today as the Nevada Outreach Training Organization’s (NOTO) annual community Christmas party returns to town.
Executive Director Salli Kerr is urging all families to attend the free event beginning at 4 p.m. to meet and mingle with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring along a non-perishable food item for the organization’s emergency food pantry.
NOTO offers a variety of support services and prevention programs throughout the community.
“We definitely want families to come out because it’s not a party just for kids,” she said. “There’s going to be all kinds of fun things to do, including face painting and we’ll have popcorn, hot chocolate and cookie decorating. There’s also a story time.”
Kerr also said families can dress up in Victorian regalia, to get into the Christmas spirit.
“Anyone who would like to come in Victorian-themed clothing to get into the spirit, that would be fun too,” she said. “We will have a photographer there and we’re really looking forward to having a great time.”
Though Kerr said it’s difficult to gauge, she hopes to surpass last year’s attendance.
“I wasn’t part of last year’s party but from what I understand, there were about 400 people who came through so it’s a very big event,” she said. “Parents can take pictures of their kids with Santa and we will also have some Christmas crafts going on. There’s also an emporium where kids can go in and buy some modestly-priced Christmas gifts.”
Additionally, Kerr said the event is designed to inspire camaraderie within the community.
“It allows Nevada Outreach to reach out to the community,” she said. “There is no cost for anyone to come. Many of the families that we provide services to also come out and the money raised from the emporium is set aside for the next year’s event.”
Kerr also noted the importance of community members who donate and volunteer their time to organize event.
“We have people who donate, including staff and other people outside. We’ve got tons of volunteers in this,” she said. “We do this wholly on donations where we actually prepare a list for board members and they donate a lot of the items that we need.”
Nevada Outreach is the parent company of Pahrump’s No To Abuse.
-Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @sharrispvt