The night before the 6th Annual Liston Davis Christmas Children’s Parade, the work was already underway at the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum, where Executive Director Amber McCammon gathered with volunteers to wrap gifts for the following day’s celebration.
It’s a familiar and quietly essential part of the parade — preparing presents that will be handed out to children as the community comes together for one of the season’s most anticipated events.
Joining the effort this year were volunteers from the Marine Vocational Group, participating for the first time in both the gift-wrapping and the parade itself. The organization, formerly led by the late Jimmy Loveland, was represented Friday night by its secretary Cheryl Joseph, who said members wanted to continue the group’s work and give back in a meaningful way. Families connected to the organization didn’t want its service to end, she explained — and chose to carry it forward by supporting another nonprofit rooted in the community.
The highlight of the evening came with the presentation of a $25,000 donation from One Communications, delivered in person by the company’s marketing team. One Communications Chief Executive Officer Siobhan James-Alexander said the gift reflects the company’s belief in the museum’s mission and the impact it has on children across the territory. “We see what you’re building here every day,” said said, noting that many employees are parents themselves. “It’s incredible what you do for young people in the Virgin Islands, and we wanted to support that — especially during the holidays.”
McCammon said the donation will support the museum’s general operations, including staff and ongoing programming. “This goes directly toward keeping the doors open,” she said, emphasizing that every member of the museum’s team began as a volunteer. “By supporting our staff, you’re supporting the community.”
On Saturday, the focus shifted outdoors as the Liston Davis Christmas Children’s Parade stepped off, continuing a tradition founded by Bruce Flamon and now supported by the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Executive Director Tony Emmanuel played Santa for the day, riding into Buccaneer Mall on the back of a firetruck as families lined the route. For those who had been there the night before, the moment felt like a natural continuation — a reminder that the parade’s magic begins well before Santa arrives, built through shared effort, generosity, and community care.
