Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

FAIRFIELD – Christmas came early for a few hundred children in the Fairfield area thanks to local businesses and a special education teacher from Washington Elementary.

Claire Christensen organized the first Stuff Your Stocking in 2023, inviting children to receive gifts provided by area businesses. The event was a rousing success, attracting 16 businesses to sponsor a booth and garnering more than 100 children in attendance, leading Christensen to turn it into an annual event. This year, 19 businesses participated, the most ever.

Businesses donate everything from toys and trinkets to blankets, gloves and hats. Leftover items that are not handed out on the event date itself are taken to local elementary schools for distribution.

Christensen said attendance doubled in the event’s second year in 2024 when about 220 children came. This year’s event was held on Monday, Dec. 15, and while Christensen said attendance did not seem nearly as high as last year, she feels good about giving children a memorable Christmas who might not otherwise get one.

“Some families have a harder time around the holidays, trying to get their kids gifts as well as put food on the table, get them hats, get them gloves,” she said. “This takes a little off their plate. It’s nice that the parents can come through and not have to pay anything.”