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Colorful wrapping paper, tape and Christmas gifts littered a Lanham conference table Tuesday evening as about a dozen county residents who have physical and/or developmental disabilities came together to wrap presents for an Upper Marlboro family who otherwise wouldn't have any this year.

The gift-wrappers were thrilled to make Christmas brighter for a mom and her three children who couldn't afford the nearly 20 gifts, including clothing and toys, which almost spilled out of a large box by the end of the evening.

"I like giving back to the community because there are some people that don't have a lot," said Ruth Shipps, 23, of New Carrollton. "It's better to give than get."

Shipps is a member of the Resource Connections Steering Committee in Lanham, made up of 12 to 16 Prince George's County residents with physical and/or developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation. The committee is a community outreach group of Resource Connections, a Lanham-based nonprofit advocacy organization that works with developmentally disabled adults ages 21 to senior citizens through a contract with Maryland's Developmental Disabilities Administration, said Bea Rodgers, executive director of Resource Connections.

Currently, 1,800 people receive this program's support and services.

The steering committee, which is now in its sixth year, decided to give back to the community, Rodgers said. Members adopted a family to give gifts – a mom with a developmental disability, her 2-year-old son and 4- and 12-year-old daughters.

Shipps—with the $15 spending limit per member in mind—purchased a coloring book and crayons. Other gifts included clothing, jewelry, toys and a walkman.

"It was helpful because they had no gifts this year," said steering committee member Sherry McGill, 36, of Upper Marlboro. "I think they'll be excited."

Steering committee member Pacha Butler, 25, of Landover agreed.

"I think the gifts are nice for little people," she said.

In addition to the gifts, the Resource Connections staff is giving the family a Christmas ham, pies, juice and canned goods that will last through the holiday, Rodgers said.

Resource coordinators enjoyed watching committee members wrap gifts and seeing how happy the committee was to participate in the wrapping.

"They were very excited and happy to be a part of what everyone else is doing," said Resource Connections resource coordinator Sharese Olaytoye. "Some were surprised [by the experience]—this was their first time [wrapping gifts]."

Resource coordinator Joyce Jones agreed.

"They realized they were helping someone else," she said. "They got a kick out of making someone's Christmas happy. Making them a part of the whole process makes them feel like ordinary people. They did ordinary people things. They did it themselves – they have that sense of accomplishment."

Committee members decided what they wanted to give each family member based on their age and needs, Jones said.

"They'll want to do this again. It went smoothly and they'll remember," she said.

The resource coordination program monitors the services individuals receive and assists people with planning for the lives they choose by identifying goals and hopes for the future and exploring the community resources to help achieve them, Rodgers said.

"People with disabilities have a say in their lives, and people with disabilities can do things," Rodgers said.

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.