John Paul II Center for Special Learning (JPII) students returned from Thanksgiving break to a Winter Wonderland thanks to David Lomnychuk, owner of David’s Cleaning Services, Reading. David and his team of elves filled the school with icicle and snowflake lights, a 12-foot and a 9-foot Christmas tree, lighted garland around the stage, and white poinsettias throughout the hallways.
“I attended the school’s Christmas program last year and while I could feel the love in the room, I felt something was missing and that was the beauty of lights,” David says. “I decided then to decorate the school to make this year’s Christmas season more magical.”
During Thanksgiving break David, members of his staff, and Jim Holler and his staff from Elite Holiday Lights spent 75 labor hours transforming the entry, hallways and stage areas.
As Mireya J., 12, entered the building for the first time after break, she summed up what everyone was feeling by saying, “I’m in a Winter Wonderland!”
“We are beyond thankful to David and his team for giving their time to create this special Christmas gift for our students, adult participants and staff,” says Principal Kaylee Simcik. “He had a vision from the beginning to create this beautiful wonderland and he succeeded.”
“Over the years I’ve created Christmas displays throughout the area because I believe in the importance of businesses coming together to create a better community,” David admits. “This year, I wanted to share my passion for Christmas at a place where I knew it would be loved, and I knew that JPII would be the perfect place. When you walk in their doors you immediately know what a special place it is and can see how much the staff loves their students. I watched the students and staff as they saw the light displays for the first time, and you could see the joy in their eyes. I’m overwhelmed by their reaction and thankful that I could provide them with this special Christmas gift.”
