“A lot of times families are just so busy in their lives. There’s just so much going on and they may be working two or three jobs and they don’t get time to really enjoy family,” Jacquelyn Hunt, organizer of the annual Dinner with Soul Santa event, tells Madison365. “So this is a great chance to just get out and you don’t have to worry about anything – we are going to provide you with a good meal and gifts for your family for Christmas – and you can just enjoy yourself and be around others and do fun stuff together … that’s therapeutic.
“And it’s fun for kids to be around Soul Santa, too,” she adds. 
Every year, Hunt introduces new young people to “Soul Santa” and provides a culturally-rich holiday party at the annual Dinner with Soul Santa celebration, a free community event that brings families together for food, fun and fellowship during the holiday season. This year’s event, the 13th annual, will be held Friday, Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. at Highland Manor Park Shelter, 10 Manor Drive in Madison.
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. Last year’s event was a virtual event because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hosts of the event are Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership and FOSTER (Families Overcoming Struggles To Encourage Restoration), whose 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.
At this year’s annual Dinner with Soul Santa, there will be delicious food from Melly Mel’s Catering. Arlington and Andreal Davis will be playing Santa and Mrs. Claus for the first time.
“Our Disney characters will be returning for this year’s event. We have volunteers from just about everywhere. We have playmaking, gingerbread house decorating, arts and crafts and coloring sheets, face painting, Christmas bingo game,” Hunt says. “Santa will make his appearance and we will sing some Christmas carols.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun. I’m excited to be back in person. We will be requiring people to wear their masks and will have sanitizer and wipes everywhere. We will take many precautions for COVID,” she adds.
People at the event will drive to Fountain of Life Church to receive gifts for the kids after the Dinner with Soul Santa. “It’s all contactless. Just drive up and give us your number,” Hunt says.
Hunt is also organizing the Holiday Soul Gift Giveaway at Fountain of Life Church on Saturday, noon-3 p.m. Hunt took over the Shoebox Gifts for Children at Christmas through W.I.N.R.S. Ministry from Lucille Badger and her husband four or five years ago.
“All of the leftover shoeboxes that we have, we will be distributing on Saturday. We’ll have diapers and wipes and essential household items to give away,” Hunt says. “On Saturday, we will have Christmas carolers and Santa will be out there, hot chocolate, cookies, EMT, firefighters and the sheriff out there.”
It’s a special time of season and a very special event for Hunt. It’s a day that every year is near and dear to her heart. What is her favorite part?
“When it’s over,” she laughs.
“Seriously, my favorite part of the event is when I get to stand back and just watch moms and dads engaged in the arts and crafts activities,” she adds. “It was about three years ago when we had that big event at Lighthouse and I was watching moms decorate gingerbread houses for the first time in their lives with their kids right next to them having so much fun. I saw the light through their eyes just shining when they finish making their sled.
“That’s what brings me joy doing this event – watching the faces and the interactions with the families together and doing all these things together. Sometimes we just don’t pause and take time to do things like that at home because our lives are so chaotic.”
