What started as a small gathering with just four guests has mushroomed into the highlight of the holiday season for adults with mental and physical disabilities.
Forty-four years ago, the first “Christmas Party for Atlanta’s Special Citizens” was held at Underground Atlanta. But this Sunday, more than 650 are expected at the Omni Hotel for a gala that includes food, singing, Santa Claus and presents.
Organizer Jerry Draluck and his wife Enid started volunteering with the event 19 years ago, and it wasn’t long before they were orchestrating the entire show.
“Really close friends of mine, Susan and Bernie Eisenstein, started it, but about 15 years ago, he asked me to take it over,” said Draluck. “I didn’t hesitate: I said, ‘Absolutely.’ “
The Sandy Springs resident was drawn to the event because it is aimed at a special, often overlooked, segment of the population.
“There are a lot of holiday programs for children, but for this event, all the participants are 18 and older,” said Draluck. “We contact places such as Annandale Village (in Suwanee), organizations, private and state-run homes and individual or group homes to find people. Over the years, we’ve built an extensive database, and every year, these people get invitations. Some of them have been coming since the beginning, but they all look forward to it. For some of these folks, this is their outing for the year.”
Since everything that goes into the party is donated, Draluck, who works for the Buckhead Beef Company, spends most of his free time all year long organizing it. The culmination of that precise coordination begins at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, when more than 120 volunteers show up at the hotel to set up the ballroom. At 11 a.m., they’re greeting guests, and for two hours, the party goes on with dancing, live music and appearances by the Abominable Feed and Seed Marching Band and the Atlanta Yaarab Shriner Clowns. Santa arrives by Segway, and everyone leaves with a gift.
“It’s like a 2-hour, 3-ring circus,” said Draluck with a laugh. “I think we have as much fun as the guests. Even the Omni employees come out of the woodwork to help us with it.”
Draluck said even after all these years, when he and his wife tell people about the party, “they look at us funny.”
“Yes, we’re Jewish, and we’re doing a holiday party,” he said. “But this is such a neat way for us to give back. I tell people the best gift you can imagine giving yourself at the holidays is being part of this party. It’s instant gratification to see the thankfulness of these people. I can’t put into words how much we get out of doing this every year.”
Every other Wednesday, H.M. Cauley brings you positive stories from our community. To suggest a story idea, call 770-744-3042 or e-mail hm_cauley@yahoo.com.
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