Santa Needs Help in Old Town

I’ve never posted anything like this but this year is so very different. SANTA NEEDS HELP!!
Over 30 years ago a group of us started collecting gifts for children whose parents couldn’t afford toys to try to bring them joy at Christmas time.
Each year the collection grew and one year we worked with families who were staying at a local family shelter in Old Town and the experience left a life-long mark on many of us.
The employees in our office would purchase gifts for children whose parents couldn’t afford them. Our goal was to buy what the children wished for in their Dear Santa letters. Each year there are certain items that are in: an electronic toy, a Hannah Montana comforter, a Lego kit, or something else. That particular year, we purchased rollerblades along with helmets and pads, and we wrapped and labeled them. We also bought many other items including jackets, sweaters, boots, dolls, video games, and books.
After Christmas, we heard back from Rose, the shelter director, who shared one story: A girl stood and took in the scene – the shelter children rollerblading on the street wearing their new gear on Christmas morning, the City of Alexandria police had blocked off the street for them to enjoy their rollerblades.
The director stood next to the young girl, who joyfully told her, “This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had!” Rose responded, “Is it because you received what you wished for?” The girl answered: “I did get what I wanted, but that’s not the reason. It’s the first time in my life that I received gifts that had my name on them instead of Girl, Age 11.”
It’s been many years since this happened, and everyone in our office continued to respond to Dear Santa letters each year, but this story still brings tears to our eyes as we share it.
The conversations every year are heart-wrenching - these are truly the working poor - not one is looking for a handout – these adults work or want to work; many had multiple jobs before the pandemic.
By the time I retired last December the initiative had grown to other parts of the company that had acquired us. We’ve mulled over how we can continue to grow this and spread Christmas cheer. One of the cool things about this initiative is that some of the families who were recipients in the past have told us that they now are stable financially and that they make a point of buying gifts for families in need. One just emailed us this week that they bought their first home AND earlier this year became U.S. citizens (they are Pakistani Christians who suffered extreme persecution because of their faith).
This year the pandemic has stretched the volunteers who work with these families to the max – they are working round the clock to keep family’s lights on, food on the table, and stopping them from self-evicting. Yes, you read that right – self-evicting. These men and women are so proud, hard-working, and honest that some self-evict when they can’t make the rent even though the law during COVID says that they can’t be evicted.
With the pandemic we know these moms and dads can’t give their little ones the Christmas that they’d like and that Santa can’t always keep track of where these children will be but we certainly can. Let’s help these hard working families and let’s share some of the MANY, many blessings that have been bestowed upon us. To know that we can make a difference really reminds us of the true meaning of the holiday season. This year we’ve been asked to also help two halfway houses and the 24 adults who live there who have just completed a residential treatment program and are transitioning back into society.
So this is where YOU come in:
Please consider visiting our Santa Needs Help registry at Target and purchasing a gift or two. The gifts will be shipped directly to us. All you have to do is go to our registry and place an order and change someone’s life. Super easy and it’s safe since it’s all virtual.
http://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/SantaNeedsHelp
If everyone chips in we can help these families get through these difficult times and we can give these parents the joy we’ve all felt when we’ve seen our wide-eyed children/nieces/nephews on Christmas morning when that favorite, much wished-for toy was delivered by Santa. The need is great: 62 families, 150+ children!
THANK YOU!!!
Note: We will continue to add items to the registry as we speak to each of the families. We've only posted 16 families so far and we've got 46 more families but we only add families as gifts are purchased because we don't want to disappoint any families if we can't get the items and we're not funded by any organization. When we call the parents they react as if they've won the lottery! Thank you so much for donating.

Note: If you fear that this is a scam there are lots of Old Town residents who will vouch for us as the folks involved in this effort have all lived here for over 30 years and have been active in the community/church/schools for decades. The families are identified by the St. Vincent DePaul Society at the Basilica of St. Mary in Old Town Alexandria but most are not members of the parish and the Society serves everyone regardless of faith. Thank you.