Paramit Corporation reaches out to Go Kids, Inc. centers for
third year in a row
Morgan Hill – The smiling faces and the laughter of the Go Kids children make the annual holiday donation by Paramit Corporation employees worth every moment of their time and effort.
For the third year, employees from the company presented gifts to children at the two Go Kids centers in Morgan Hill, one on Crest Avenue and one in the Jasmine Square Apartments on Dec. 19.
“We have a handful of volunteers, maybe 10 or 15 employees, who actually take the gifts over, and there are a couple of them that play guitar, so we have Christmas carols and treats, too,” said Anne McAlister, Paramit purchasing manager. “They really get to see the joy that all of us hope to give these kids and their families.”
And there is joy, said Barbara Smiley, teacher and assistant supervisor for Go Kids.
“They just loved it, they were so excited,” she said. “The kids had asked for certain things, and Paramit was able to get them what they wanted. We worried a bit about a little girl who said she wanted a horse, and we thought it would be a little stuffed animal or something, but this was a super nice horse, waist-high, certainly a real treat for her.”
McAlister said the company, which employs approximately 350 people, a portion of them Morgan Hill residents, has a community committee that meets year round and helps other groups throughout the year. The Go Kids event is just one part of that, she said.
“We organize it like a wishing tree, with different tags listing the kids’ ages and their wishes; some employees take one tag, some take three, but it’s a special feeling to be able to do something for the kids,” McAlister said.
The wrapped gifts are collected at the company and stored until time for delivery. This year, a rumor made the rounds among the school-age children that the Paramit “Santas” were coming on Friday; when they showed up on Tuesday instead, the children were very surprised and excited, Smiley said.
“We’re really thankful they are able to come out and do that for us; they really help a lot families,” she said.
Paramit Corp provides service and support for the high tech industry.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
