When students and staff of the Big Walnut Local School District talk about a family Christmas, they don’t just mean their families at home; they mean the entire Big Walnut community.

Each year the school district’s administrative services department organizes a Big Walnut Christmas wish program, sponsoring local families in need and providing them with items on their Christmas wish lists.

Linda Klamfoth, who works in administrative services, said this year 102 Big Walnut area families were served, with all district school buildings involved, in addition to local churches, businesses, organizations and individuals pitching in to make certain area families have the best Christmas possible.

Klamfoth said Big Walnut staff from all buildings participated in this year’s effort. At the schools, the Big Walnut Middle School student council participated, as did the high school student council, National Honor Society and French club.

Also helping out were members of Sunbury United Methodist Church, Sunbury Nazarene Church, American Showa Inc., Anthony Dental, Sunbury Dental, Side-by-Side, Genoa Township Fire Department and a host of other individuals and organizations. Klamfoth said there were more than 30 givers – some wishing to remain anonymous.

“The response from our community has been overwhelming, but that’s the Big Walnut way — everybody pitches in and sees what they can do,” Klamfoth said. “(Director of Administrative Services) Ron McClure and (administrative assistant) Laura Forman were very involved. Each helped with organizing the program and delivering gifts.

“For my part, it’s been a privilege — the giving and the gratitude I see on people’s faces,” Klamfoth added. “This is one of the highest points of being part of the Big Walnut school district — the community outreach. It’s pretty amazing.”