Jackie Hunt, founder of F.O.S.T.E.R. (Families Overcoming Struggles To Encourage Restoration), has been hosting the annual Dinner with Soul Santa for 15 years now, a free community event that brings families together for food, fun and fellowship during the holiday season on Madison’s South Side.
“At first this was just for families that I worked with, but we extended it to families in the community because I felt like more families could benefit from something like this,” Hunt tells Madison365.
F.O.S.T.E.R‘s mission is to support low-income families of color to get to a place of self-sufficiency through mental health awareness, education, training, and stable affordable housing. Every year during the holiday season, F.O.S.T.E.R combines efforts with the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership to host the Dinner with Soul Santa event.
The essence of the event originated from Jackie Hunt’s mentor, Milele Chickasa Anana, who had a passion for helping single mothers navigate their journeys with sobriety or battling addictions and would take a group of kids out for dinner on Christmas Eve so the moms could have some time to themselves.
Hunt would soon create her own holiday event where kids could come and have fun at a culturally rich holiday party. Every year, Hunt introduces new young people to “Soul Santa,” played by her son, Jerome “Romey” Hunt, a talented Madison/Milwaukee hip-hop artist.
“I don’t know, something snapped in me because that’s all we had was white Santa Clauses,” Hunt says. “So, the creation of the dinner with Soul Santa began.”
For many years, the event was held at Fountain of Life Church on Madison’s South Side before moving to Lighthouse Christian School a few years back. This year’s event will be held Friday, Dec. 15, 5 p.m. at Highland Manor Park Shelter, 10 Manor Drive in Madison.
(Photo supplied)
Activities such as gingerbread house making, singing Christmas carols, pictures with other Disney characters, and other arts and crafts activities that intensify the holiday spirit have become Madison cultural traditions for every community to look forward to.
Over the 15 years with this event, Hunt has noticed how stress-relieving building community during the holidays can be.
“I realized it was a big therapy session taking place, these moms were healing through their art and through community with other women,” Hunt says. “I had missed that and once that clicked with me it has never left, it is stuck with me.
Hunt is most excited for the community to see how the space has changed over the years to include new activities and opportunities to engage with the community around the holidays.
“We have been doing some stuff for years and now it’s time to freshen up with some new stuff,” Hunt adds.
With new community partners and a host of other community supporters, family, and friends aiding the project, Hunt is looking forward to the next generation continuing a legacy, started by mentor Milele and rooted in cultural enrichment and mutual aid.
