With some help from the Mostyn Moreno Foundation’s “Christmas Lights” program, students enrolled in Nederland Independent School District’s life skills program were able to knock out some Christmas shopping at Walmart on Monday.

Children, accompanied by members of the Nederland High School volleyball team,  wandered the aisles of the toy section with $50 gift cards in search of items on their wish lists.

Students filled their carts with board games, footballs and action figures, with one student adding a couple boxes of honey buns for a Christmas treat.

This marked the fifth year the foundation hosted the event.

Nederland High School life skills teacher Cindy Baker said she looks forward to the event each year.

“The kids look forward to it,” she said. “They’re excited when we put them on the bus. All of the kids really enjoy it. It’s great that the parents come, because they will tell you what they need.”

Baker says she hears from parents at the beginning of the year.

Nederland Director of Student Services Deidre Powell said the program also benefits the parents of the children in the program, many of who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.

“We have 53 percent that are in that category,” she said. “It changes by campus. This allows parents and students an opportunity that they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

The program allows students to practice and use different life skills such as managing money for some of the higher groups and behavior skills for some lower levels, Baker said.

“The higher group is able to work on the math skills,” she said. “They would get on the internet and look up prices for different things. We’ll ask them if that’s what they want and see if they can buy that.”

Baker said the day involves a lot of preparation but has a big payoff.

“Just watching them go down the aisles is fun,” she said. “They get all excited. They might have been waiting for one particular gift, and they see it. It’s Christmas morning.”

After shopping, students enjoyed a luncheon at the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont.

The Mostyn Moreno Foundation will continue the Christmas Lights program throughout the week with the other school districts in Jefferson County.