At East Midvale Elementary, fourth-grader Avayha Sanchez was filled with excitement, not just for the slime and drawing supplies she received, but also for the beanie and coat that will keep her warm this winter.

“I’m so happy and thankful,” she said. “It’s the best.”

These gifts were made possible by Vivint, which provided 550 students at East Midvale with gift-wrapped bags containing a total of 3,300 items — a mix of wants and needs.

Avayha’s teacher, Amelia VanderVelde, was equally appreciative of the thoughtful gifts for her students.

“It is definitely the best day,” she said. “It is cool to see members of the community come in to support our East Midvale community. Look at our kids, they’re just glowing and so appreciative.”

Many students wrote thank-you notes to the 150 Vivint employees who donated their time and resources to ensure everyone received gifts.

“A lot of our students don't celebrate Christmas, but they get the opportunity to feel special and to have some of these experiences that they don't always get. They’re appreciative of their gifts and learn to appreciate different holidays and different cultures,” VanderVelde said. “I watched one student pull off his shoe to try on boots and he didn’t have socks. I had no idea he didn’t have socks, but the Vivint volunteer said, ‘let’s go get you some socks to go with the boots.’”

Another student was picking between boots, one with animal prints and a second, simple black pair. She chose the black boots and told the Vivint volunteer, “They’re warmer.”

Shelley McCall, East Midvale community schools facilitator, is familiar with these types of stories. She said the generosity of Vivint helps to make the winter season not only warmer for students, but also, the students realize they’re loved by the community.

McCall explained the Sub-for-Santa process began in November to make sure each student received the right sizes. Each student receives about $100 worth of presents as Vivint employees donated $350,000 to purchase gifts for program. Once purchased, the gifts were sorted by student, grade and classroom, and arrived in two U-Haul trucks.

The unwrapping took place in the cafeteria, with classes arriving every 15 minutes. Volunteers were on hand to make sure everything fit, and if it didn’t, a “swap shop” in the library ensured the right sizes were available.

Fourth-grader Leo Farnsworth was thrilled to receive a new set of LEGOs, but he was also excited to see Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks, who was there to help students unwrap their gifts.

“A lot of volunteers came to help us and that’s pretty awesome,” he said. “So is seeing Taylor.”

Hendricks was glad to participate in the event.

“I love giving back and I’m in a position where I can impact a lot of kids’ lives,” he said. “That's what this is all about, just making a kid's day.”

Vivint’s annual Sub-for-Santa program is aimed to help to low-income children and families nationwide, said Rachel Reid, Vivint’s public relations manager. Employees can nominate deserving families or schools, make monetary donations, shop, wrap and deliver presents.

In Utah, Vivint partners with Utah Foster Care, United Way of Utah County, Dual Immersion Academy, The Refuge Utah and local schools. This is the sixth year Vivint has worked with East Midvale, a partnership initiated by former fourth-grade teacher-turned-Vivint employee Sadie Bauserman.

Holly Mero, Vivint’s senior director of strategy and philanthropy, explained the program is an easy way to make a lasting effect on children in need.

“It’s a way we can make an impact that's pretty lasting,” she said. “We love seeing our employees interact with the kids. As much as the kids look forward to it, our employees look forward to it. This just makes such an impact on everybody. The best part is the sheer number of people who come together to take care of kids.”

Mero recalled a moment years ago when a kindergartner’s excitement over simple gifts left a lasting impression on her.

“When the kids get a toothbrush, a pillow, mac and cheese, they get excited,” she said. “About 15 years ago, a kindergarten boy called me over and I thought I’d know what he would be looking for — the monster truck — but the first thing he pulled out was a bag of pretzels and he was so excited. Then, he pulled out applesauce and he got even more excited. Next thing he pulls out was fruit snacks and smiles. At this point, I'm humbled. He was so grateful for those simple things.”

Vivint Sales Manager Jonathan Bardalez, who has been volunteering to spread joy at the school for six years, emphasized the eye-opening nature of the experience.

“We take a lot of things for granted, but these kids are getting excited for pairs of pants, gloves and a jacket,” he said. “Many of them are like ‘Oh my gosh, I needed socks. This is the best.’ We don't expect that or realize that's what kids are wanting as a gift. These kids are excited for everything, and it's really humbling. So many of these kids I’ve met are from different countries — I’ve met native Spanish and Arabic speakers — so this might be their first Christmas in the U.S. It’s heartwarming to see them feel welcome and see their reaction when they open up these presents. Then, they write us thank-you letters with messages like ‘Thank you for keeping us warm’ and it just melts my heart.”

Principal Matt Nelson expressed his gratitude for the Vivint volunteers’ generosity.

“I’ve seen several Vivint volunteers get emotional and feel that spirit of giving,” he said. “Our kids’ families are grateful when their kids receive a new coat or new pair of shoes or boots. It also takes the pressure off the families during this season to provide warm items or gifts they want if it’s not something they can afford. This is such a positive thing for everyone and brings smiles on everyone’s faces.”λ