CHESAPEAKE, Va. - A Chesapeake nonprofit dedicated to helping children of all ages express themselves through art, held a special, jolly outreach event on Sunday for kids of military members and first responders.
Our Daily Gnome Creative Arts Center on Battlefield Boulevard in Great Bridge was founded by Faith Leonard, 12, after her own experiences using art to help overcome anxiety.
"If they have anger, or if they're upset about something or if they just have anxiety about what's happening in their life, it's a place where they can come and just relax and make friends and just have fun," said Leonard.
It's a mission that only about 18 months old, but Leonard and her mother, Dawn, have found a particular need for children whose parents are serving.
"Through research, we found that they have a higher percentage of anxiety in those children because of the deployments and the long hours," said Dawn.
To help, they began hosting free Breakfast With Santa events around the holidays in 2022. It returned with a bang on Sunday.
Visitors found a table full of donuts, hot chocolate and other goodies, and Santa Claus ready to hear children's Christmas wishes.
Dawn Leonard says her initial plan was to have a second Breakfast With Santa open to the public next weekend too, but the response from military and first responder families was so great — nearly 100 signups — that she dedicated both breakfasts to meet the need.
Hero Kids Foundation and Eastern Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists sponsored the majority of the families, Dawn told News 3.
"To have a free event, just to say 'thank you,' it's amazing," said Tonya Wood, whose children all attend classes and workshops at the nonprofit.
She says her oldest daughter works there too.
"She comes home so happy telling me about her day, what she's done and I've just seen a huge difference in all of them," Wood told News 3.
And the hope is events like Breakfast With Santa will continue to help children find healing in a life that can be unpredictable.
