More than 300 volunteers assisted 96 residents at the Marklund Hyde Center campus near Geneva for the annual Christmas Eve gift opening, the agency announced in a news release.

A nonprofit, Marklund’s Hyde Center serves adults with profound developmental disabilities, so in many cases, several people assisted one resident – making the day more special for them, the release stated.

Santa Claus, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” as well as therapy dogs, visited with residents and volunteers during the gift opening.

For more than 20 years, Marklund has hosted a giving tree gift drive, which culminates in the present-opening event, the release stated.

Volunteers from local communities sign up to assist a resident with opening the donated gifts, along with some parents and guardians. The agency is trying to get back to how things were pre-COVID-19, when it was all volunteers.

Part of the volunteer department’s goal is to bring the community in to be with the residents – which is just as important as it is to bring the residents into the community on outings, Marklund officials said.

When volunteers come in and assist the gifts, they are getting to know the residents and Marklund. When residents meet new people and make new friends, they can see how much others care for them.

More than 150 volunteers assisted 84 residents at the Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin. The Wasmond Center is a skilled nursing and intermediate care facility for children and adults with profound developmental disabilities.

More information about Marklund facilities is available online at marklund.org.