LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
RCMA Wimauma Academy 4th-grader Celeste Mosso fist-bumps Santa Claus at a special event hosted by the Firehouse Cultural Center Dec. 18. Each child brought along a personal letter to Santa, which was handed to an elf stationed inside the mailbox shown in the background.
Firehouse Cultural Center hosts Christmas event for RCMA Wimauma students
By LOIS KINDLE
Last week, the Jolly Old Soul had some extra help this year in the form of elves from the Firehouse Cultural Center, when 30 RCMA Wimauma Community Academy 4th graders stepped off their bus and dropped off handwritten letters to Santa.
“They were so excited to have the opportunity to leave the (school) building and take part in a safe, drive-through event set up just for them,” said their ESL teacher Susan Reyes. “The Firehouse Cultural Center has been really good to us by offering our students lots of fun, arts-filled activities (they don’t get at home or school). We are truly grateful.”
This Dec. 18 event was no exception. In addition to affording the children the chance to deliver their Christmas wish lists and getting the chance to say hi to Santa from a distance, the children received candy canes, festive head bobbles and several arts-filled activity sheets. All wore masks.
Santa Claus, a.k.a. Joe Zuniga, owner of Zuniga Marketing, honorary mayor of the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce, singer and author, spoke to the kids in both English and Spanish and had a blast fist-bumping the kids as they walked by. It was meaningful for them to see a Santa who looked just like them.
His presence made an impression. Some of the children were delighted to tell Reyes that their Santa “didn’t want cookies; he wanted tamales.”
Zuniga said he enjoys giving back to the community whenever possible.
“It’s always a blessing to bring a smile to others, especially children – and especially at Christmas,” he said.
Once finished, the kids quickly got back on the bus, waving happily to Santa and his elves through the windows as they headed back to school. Shortly after they left, the elves read aloud every letter to Santa, each one a poignant mix of Christmas dreams, transitions endured due to COVID-19 and family difficulties caused by the pandemic.
Many began by asking Santa how he, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer were doing, and then made simple requests for one or two toys. Almost all of them included altruistic requests like asking for his help in making 2021 COVID-free or bringing peace and happiness to the world. Some simply asked for more love and kindness, while others wondered if Santa could help a sick parent who could no longer work. And all wished him “Merry Christmas” and thanked him for reading their letters.
RCMA Wimauma Community Academy is a B-rated, dual-language public charter school in Hillsborough County with a student population of almost 98% Hispanic children, many who come from migrant families. Serving students in grades K-8, it’s located at 18236 U.S. 301 S, Wimauma, and is governed by the Redlands Christian Migrant Association.
For information, call 813-672-5159.
Jose Fidel Cruz, left, and Eduardo Jose, 4th graders at RCMA Wimauma Academy are all smiles after getting their goodies and chatting briefly with Santa at the Firehouse Cultural Center Dec. 18.
Santa Claus, a.k.a. Joe Zuniga, honorary mayor of the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce, strikes a pose as he waits for youngsters from the RCMA Wimauma Academy to arrive for a special event at the Firehouse Cultural Center Dec. 18.
Teacher Susan Reyes side-hugs student Henry Francisco Cuauhtenango, before they board the RCMA Wimauma Academy school bus filled with his fellow students from her 4th-grade class.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Beth Stein, programs coordinator at the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin, hands out arts-filled activity sheets to 4th-grade students from RCMA Wimauma Academy. The children also received Christmas-themed head bobbles and candy canes, after briefly visiting with Santa.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
RCMA Wimauma Academy 4th-grader Celeste Mosso fist-bumps Santa Claus at a special event hosted by the Firehouse Cultural Center Dec. 18. Each child brought along a personal letter to Santa, which was handed to an elf stationed inside the mailbox shown in the background.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTOS
Thirty 4th-grade students from RCMA Wimauma Academy visited the Firehouse Cultural Center Dec. 18 to drop off letters to Santa, chat with him a bit and receive special goodies and activities to take home.
