ocal organization OneBodyEnt is bringing the fifth annual Christmas in K-Land to life on Dec. 21 in southeast Colorado Springs.
The event has garnered support and popularity throughout the southeast Colorado Springs neighborhood since the get-go and will return to K-Land Plaza with gifts for the children, food bags for families, and pictures with a Santa and Mrs. Clause.
Organizer and founder of OneBody sub-group Woman of Impact Jennifer Smith said the impact of this event goes beyond celebrating the holiday season – it’s about celebrating community within the community itself.
“The impact is to help families who can’t afford Christmas to be able to have Christmas. Kids can take pictures and have that experience with Santa, and families that are from that neighborhood don’t have to go all the way up North to get something that they need. They can just walk or go straight down the street, if they need a ride or whatever. It’s only like five minutes – they don’t need to find a car or gas money, you know?” Smith said.
“K-Land” is a neighborhood on the southeast side of Colorado Springs, situated between Airport Road and Prospect Lake. Smith explained the name originated from the K-Mart that used to sit in the plaza where the event is held today.
Smith’s husband, DeAndre Smith, founder of One Body’s Men of Influence is native to K-Land.
Even after the K-Mart closed decades back, the “K” of the store’s sign remained. People called the neighborhood K-Mart-Land, and over the years it was shortened to “K-Land”
In 2019, One Body ENT organized the first Christmas in K-Land in under a month. Smith said although they did not have time to promote, cars were wrapped around the block before the block before the event even started.
“We provided 500 kids with toys that year, probably even more,” Smith said, and every year the community crowds stay consistent.
“The impact is to help families who can’t afford Christmas to be able to have Christmas.” Jennifer Smith
A unique feature of Christmas in K-Land is having a Santa Clause of color, known as “Brother Clause,” for the community to take pictures with. Smith described an emotional reaction from the community as the residents rarely have the opportunity to visit with a Santa Clause that looks like them.
“We do have Brother Clause, which is different from what kids are used to in that neighborhood. They’re mostly brown and black. So, we bring a brown Santa Claus for them to take pictures with and it’s something they are not used to. And I think we might have been the first to do something like this because I’ve never heard of it. People come crying saying, I’ve never took a picture with a Santa Clause that looks like me,” Smith said.
In years past, Smith said the event has received support from sponsors Toys for Tots and Waste Connections, a local trash company.
In 2023, Christmas in K-Land was spread across two days, the first weekend being sponsored by Toys for Tots and the second by Waste Connections, who provided 100 bikes to be given away during the event. This year, Smith said they have yet to secure a sponsor, relying on community donations and toy drives to bring Christmas in K-Land to fruition.
According to the organization, monetary donations can be made through the organization’s website. Toys collected can be dropped off ahead of the event at the One Body location at the Citadel Mall, Suite 2300, by making an appointment. Donations can also be dropped at the One Body headquarters, neighboring the Chinook Center, or at the event day-of.
One Body ENT is a Southern Colorado community outreach group encompassing a powerful network of organizations including Men of Influence, Women of Impact, Mothers of Wisdom and Youth of Influence. The organization works, “to provide positive outlets for community members occupy their time effectively, surround them with positive peers who are passionate about changing negative behaviors, and promote wholesome activities and events that affect positive change, and unifies the community as one body,” according to the One Body ENT website,
The 5th Christmas in K-Land will be held at 2551 Airport Road in Colorado Springs from 1 to 4 p.m. on Dec. 21. For more information, visit OneBodyEnt.org.
