Santa Claus came early on Wednesday when he stopped into the American Legion to meet with about 100 Head Start students and passed out gifts to each of them.
Members of the Lions Club and the Emporia Area Retired School Personnel organization made arrangements for Santa to visit.
Lions member Sally Conard took over the final tasks to coordinate the event when organizer Steve Schellhamer recently moved out of state.
The Lions have been hosts for the Santa party for more than 20 years, Conard estimated.
“It starts back in the first of November,” she said. “The kids write letters to Santa Claus and we get the letters.”
Each member would take one or two names of children from the letters and buy them gifts.
“A few years back, the numbers of Head Start students started climbing and we got to where we just couldn’t do it all,” Conard said.
The EARSP group joined in a partnership with Lions and managed to keep the project going strong.
The groups were hosts Wednesday morning for about 20 Head Start youngsters who only attend half-days. The remaining 80 children came over to the American Legion in the afternoon, after the adults had their annual Christmas dinner catered by the Olpe Chicken House.
Music teacher Nancy Robohn brought in four classes of fourth-graders from Riverside Elementary School to perform, adding another 80 young faces to the crowd at the Legion.
“Then the kids come, and Santa comes, and chaos reigns supreme,” Conard said.
Santa hands out the gifts personally to each of the children.
“And the kids, to see their faces when they see Santa and get their gifts, it is just awesome,” she said.
Others in the groups apparently feel the same.
“They look forward to it,” Conard said of the annual celebration for the children. “Some people come, and they say, ‘Now I’m in the Christmas spirit.’”
50miles (anonymous) says...
This is just simply amazing. I wish I had read about it prior so that I may have been able to buy gifts. Next year they should advertise more.
December 17, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deepthoughts (anonymous) says...
I truly hope that wasn't the same Santa that was seen drinking and taking shots at Natasha's over the lunch hour on Wednesday!
If he arrived in a cab and wasn't speaking clearly you might now know why.
December 18, 2009 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
BAD BAD SANTA!
December 18, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
"It's cold outside. A man's gotta do somethin' to keep warm."
'enry
December 18, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Lunch time?
Santa costume?
shots?
Common sense?
NOT!
December 18, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )