Kari A. Janisse and members of the Our Lady of Peace Parish youth group greet visitors to Janisse’s home for the Spirit of Giving charity event.
Williamstown resident Kari A. Janisse recently held her Third Annual Spirit of Giving, a free, family fun charity event, at her home. Close to 200 local residents attended along with special guests Santa and Rudolph.
Janisse, along with her husband Phil, holds this event in her backyard under a heated tent with free snacks, hot chocolate, a DJ, face painting and balloon animals. Janisse, who has her own entertainment business, Creative Juices by Kari, LLC, also personally greets every guest from eight feet in the air atop her stilts.
Those who attend the event are asked to bring either new or used scarves, gloves, or hats for local families in need, toys for children hospitalized at Virtua Hospital over the holiday season, or non-perishable food items for the food pantry at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Williamstown, where Janisse also serves as the coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.
“This is a great way for families to celebrate Christmas and help those in need at the same time,” said Janisse.
This year, the Spirit of Giving event collected more than 50 new toys, 20 bags of food and clothing as well as more than $200 in monetary donations.