Dallas Mavs decorate cookies for Santa with kids facing homelessness
DALLAS - Kids facing homelessness enjoyed a fun Christmas celebration with the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
The players helped the children who are staying at Vogel Alcove decorate Christmas cookies and then settled in for a Christmas story with Santa Claus.
Target also provided gifts from the kids’ wishlists, as well as clothes and other necessities.
Vogel Alcove is a nonprofit organization that serves families facing homelessness. Many of them are in emergency situations.
"It helps the families not have to worry about purchasing gifts. The children don’t have to worry about what is going on at home. They just get to be in a safe environment," said Valeria Parnia, the director of Vogel Alcove.
It was Maverick CEO Cynt Marshall’s final Cookies with Santa event before her retirement.
"The cookies are sweet. It is not bittersweet. I will still be here in Dallas, participating with the Mavericks. It is all sweet. The kids’ faces lit up when Santa walked in. It was a good day," she said.
Marshall said the Maverick's new owners – Patrick Dumont and the Adelson Family – will carry on the team’s legacy of philanthropy and community involvement.
She believes it will only get better.