Thanks to a local 5-year-old and a group focused on helping the community, families in need again will have a place to get a meal on Christmas Day.

Student Santas is holding its second Christmas dinner from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 25 at Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, organizer Jennifer Icaza-Gast said.

This is the second year for the meal, which was inspired last winter by a letter from a 5-year-old boy.

"I got this letter from a little boy," Icaza-Gast said. "... And that's all he wished for was a nice meal. He didn't ask for a toy or new pajamas or anything like that. He just wanted a nice meal. And so that just kind of crushed me in a thousand pieces."

Ryan's and Isle Casino Cape Girardeau have donated the food for the event, Icaza-Gast said. The meal is being planned for about 300 people. About 120 were served at last year's dinner.

Last year, about 100 people volunteered to help with the meal, Icaza-Gast said.

"My gosh, to see over 100 people volunteer on Christmas Day when they have their own things going on, was kind of overwhelming," she said.

In addition to the dinner, Student Santas, in its 11th year, provides food and toys to local children in need.

Icaza-Gast said she is grateful for any monetary donations the group receives.

Children at Jefferson and Franklin elementary schools fill out wish lists that are sent to Student Santas, she said.

"And we specifically go out and buy for each child," she said. "We will make several massive shopping trips, and we will go out and specifically buy for these kids that have asked for a Barbie doll or a blanket. ... So all of that money is used for the kids. Every bit of it."

Icaza-Gast said delivering those gifts every year helped her see how great the need was for feeding the hungry locally.

"Parents are showing me how empty their pantries are, and kids are going hungry right here in Cape," she said.

Those wishing to volunteer to help with the meal can get more information at the studentsantas.com website, which is expected to go live Monday.

kwebster@semissourian.com

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