Despite the cold afternoon on Sunday many people showed up to the Calumet Christmas Celebration held at Calumet Park.

The party was hosted by Calumet Village Association, Ark Refuge Ministry and Rosemont Baptist Church. Ark Refuge Ministry Executive Director Yvonne Lopez said the groups hold this party for children in low-income families.

“These are people’s homes, and we have a bunch of children in this community,” Lopez said. “A lot of times these people living in these situations, they don’t have much, especially around the end of the month, which is Christmastime. Whatever we can do to try to make them have a pleasant Christmas and let them know what Christmas is about Jesus and him coming into the world to save us.”

The party had free hot chocolate and activities for children including decorating Christmas cookies. A Christmas tree was lit at the park.

Lopez said the ministries wanted to give back to the community and that Christmas is not the only time they give back.

“That’s what [we’re doing is] all about, giving,” she said. “We don’t just wait until Christmas to give, we give all year round.”

Members of Rosemont Baptist Church hold youth ministry with the children in the Calumet community regularly, according to student ministry assistant Pam Murphy.

“We used to come every week, but now we come once a month and we do that so that we can build relationships in the community, and we meet needs outside the park ministry itself. Normally we cook out, we have a Bible story we do a craft and play games with them. We sponsor a yearly basketball tournament,” Murphy said. “It’s just about building relationships and becoming one community. It’s a part of our community outreach.”

The event also gave out gifts and gift cards to the children who attended.