Once a year, people all across the country and world come together to help those in need. As part of the holiday spirit, the Mississippi School of the Arts Beta Club hosted the Berean Children’s Home for a Christmas carnival.

“We have shed many a sweat, and now we’re shedding tears,” Christie Elkins, Beta Club sponsor, said.

Activities for the children included watching dance students perform scenes from the Nutcracker, a preview of Chorale students’ concert, a visit from the Santa, a gift exchange, pizza party and a reading of the nativity scene.

Elkins said this is the first year they’ve done this, but they hope it becomes an annual tradition.

“I’m just overwhelmed with the kids and the people I work with,” she said.

The MSA students worked to make sure the Berean children felt at home, and they enjoyed stepping into these children’s lives.

“We can try to do something for the kids,” Mecca Givens said.

Elkins insisted all the credit deserves to go to the MSA students.

“Our hearts are definite in the right place right now. This all them,” she said.

MSA also donated $1200 worth of materials for the Berean Home, and over $450 of that was pooled by the students alone.

Elkins said the project touched home for a couple of the adults.

“It’s a special project because I myself have an adopted son, and Ms. Hirsch is adopted,” she said.

Elkins also added that the students come from a variety of economic backgrounds, so it touches home for them as well.

The Beta Club is group of students at MSA dedicated to personal development, service involvement and the development of leadership skills.