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A Gift For Santa
Hanging over the doorway of our kitchen (under which we pass uncounted times every day) is a tissue paper craft rainbow. When walking under this rainbow and acknowledging its presence, any troubles I think I have fade into near-nothingness.
This gift of a rainbow given to Santa came from a very special young child.
I received it during my first full-scale visit to St. Jude Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic. Even with my education, background, training and experience; I was nervous as I arrived. There were a number of children there that beautiful Spring day. Each and every child, from the youngest to the oldest, was an inspiration to me, and I soon felt right at home.
I moved from room to room, taking whatever time required, or seemed appropriate with each child and family. I read or told stories, answered questions, and we played games. I listened closely as some of them told me stories.
I had been informed there was one little boy who was very engaging.
Marinda McConnell, Child Life Program Manager at the Niswonger Childrens Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center and St. Jude Tri-Cities Affiliate Clinic in Johnson City, Tenn., announced through his nearly-closed door that he had a visitor on the way to his room.
Santa! he exclaimed, hearing the sleigh bells on my boots as I walked up the hall.
Entering his room, I saw his eyes were dancing as his smile and excitement filled the room. It may have seemed like Christmas morning all over again for him.
He had been working on a paper mache rainbow and was awaiting lunch with his mother at his side. His laughter was like the sounds of happiness and joys from a Christmas morning, all wrapped into one special little boy.
Lunch, for him, came though a plastic tube which fed directly into his stomach. It has been this way almost his entire life.
He had been diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia, a blood disorder that leads to bone marrow failure and various types of cancer and leukemia.
Lunch was also some small bites of his favorites, salted fries and a grilled burger. Not being able to swallow the tidbits, he took them in his mouth, wrestled them around his tongue, savoring every nuance and distinction of flavor, fair and foul. From each and every bite he extracted the essence of the flavors and juices and aromas, discarding the remnants, ready for another flavor filled treasure.
Each bite he took in, savored and discarded once again. All the while we talked, laughed, played and he continued working on the paper mache rainbow. His hands twisted, he labored to finish as he labored also to guide food to his mouth. And he laughed at the simple joys of living and the excitement of the day.
Before me was this child who savored life as he savored his lunch, tasting every moment, every flavor and even the sour notes.
Witnessing this young man, full of energy and life, overcoming many physical challenges (most adults could not deal with) reinforced my understanding of the Sacredness of each and every child and of life itself.
His spirit shined through so brightly as to make his physical impairments nearly vanish into nothingness. His boundless energy flowed through and beyond the walls of his room, spilling over and being felt through the entire clinic I have no doubt.
The simple joy of living life seemed to come so naturally to him. I barely saw his physical impairments at all. I just saw this bright, shining, little boy whose spirit could not be confined within his imperfect body. His joy of life filled the room and all who came near him.
I had gone to the clinic to try and spread a little Christmas Joy, perhaps brighten some childs day. As I left that day, it was with renewed vigor and a brightened Spirit, lifted up by this glowing little boy so full of energy and life, housed in that small fragile body.
So thats why above our doorway is a rainbow. And this little paper rainbow sheds a most incredible light that helps guide me on my path and my reindeer steer their sleigh.
Santa
Bill McKee is a “Santa of the Heart ” and brings joy to so many children in the Tri-State area. He is also the editor and publisher of the North Pole Observer which is a publication for the Santa Comunity.
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On Being A Hospice Santa – Part Three
This is Part THREE of the three part series on being a hospice Santa. Santa John Scheuch is the Vice President of Santa America’s Hospice & Hospital Support Services. He is a founding Santa America Santa and a leader in volunteer hospice support.
The Bereavement Visit……………
These are visits that occur after a close relative has died. Children handle grief differently than adults. Children may get sad for a few minutes, but then appear happy and carefree five minutes later. Over time the sadness isn’t as deep, and the time between episodes gets longer……but they still have the sad feelings. We can not minimize them, and need to address them straight on. Ask a child what kinds of things they used to do with their loved one. Or what they might do as a special remembrance for the person who died. Ask about favorite memories. But only do these things if the child wishes to talk about the subject.
My wife and I volunteer at a pediatric bereavement camp. While playing cars with two children about 7 years old, one little boy said “My daddy died”. The second boy said “My daddy died, too”. My wife said “My daddy died, too”. And the boys just kept on playing cars. While it was a tragic event for these children, they were coping. They just needed some reassurance that it was okay.
The Palliative Care Visit…………
Many Hospice organizations also offer palliative care. This is care for children that, while not necessarily terminal, is life long care. This includes children with severe genetic disorders and children that are bed-ridden or housebound. Many times these children do not recognize Santa, but can sense the joy that his visit brings to the family. These visits are a huge benefit the family, and they are visits that have taught me the true meaning of “Unconditional Love.”
I visited a family two years in a row whose son is bed ridden. He is on a respirator. The breathing tube needs to be cleaned about every 15 minutes. Whoever is closest just does it. There is no “I did it last time.” Or “It’s your turn.” They just do it to make him more comfortable. Santa needs to take his turn.
What is Your Calling?
Any of us are capable of making Santa hospice visits. Training is available from on how to prepare for volunteer visits from your local Hospice organization. Santa-America builds on this basic training with courses at Santa gatherings or blog articles like this. The number one thing to remember is you are visiting children. They are the same as other children you visit. They just have been handed some special challenges. With the proper preparation, you can make these visits very positive for the child and their family………. And you will learn a lot about yourself in the process!
On Being a Hospice Santa – Part Two
The following is PART TWO in the three part series on being a hospice Santa. Santa John Scheuch is the Vice President of Santa America’s Hospice & Hospital Support Services. He is a founding Santa America Santa and a leader in volunteer hospice support.
The Pediatric Hospice visit………….
For most Santas, this is the most difficult visit of all we do. As we learned at the first ever Santa-America meeting in 2006, all Santas are afraid of three things:
1) I won’t know what to say
2) I’m afraid I’ll say the wrong thing
3) I’m afraid I’ll “break down” while I am there
First and foremost, you are visiting a CHILD. They just happen to have a life threatening illness. Focus on the positive. Do not shy away from asking these children what they want for Christmas. They may answer they want to get better, or they want to not hurt. And they may admit to being scared. It’s okay. Santa needs to be prepared to handle these responses. Prior to the visit, get information about the child – wants, likes, dislikes, friends, favorite foods, favorite toys or TV shows – good information to talk about that is not focused on the illness. Talk to the children about their fears and their hurts only if they bring it up. If it is appropriate and asked by the family, offer to pray with them. Remember, focus on the child. If the child feels tired or uncomfortable, it is OK to shift your attention to siblings and parents. It is OK to extend…or shorten a visit based on how the child is feeling. If you feel emotions coming on, just get up and excuse yourself for a few minutes. Please do not stay and try to hang tough. If you start getting emotional, the family and often the child focus on comforting you! Best to leave for a minute to check on the reindeer and make sure they are OK.
I had a child that was nearing death ask if he was going to die. I answered honestly that I did not know. But if he did, I knew that he would not have to take yucky medicine anymore, that he would not hurt, and he would be able to do the things he wanted to do again. And then I shifted to a happier topic.
This is where the visits to adult hospice patients really pays off. Believe me, you will be much more comfortable with hospice after you have visited as an adult volunteer at your local hospice.
Also remember, we have a special book, “An Angel in the Sky” by Sheila Booth-Alberstadt. It is a pioneering work written for a child in hospice. You can read it or leave it as a gift.
Always remember, it is “ELF before SELF particularly when visiting a child.
Military Support Program Gains Steam!
The Military Support Program is REALLY picking up steam!! Sharon (my Mrs. Claus) and I had an opportunity to visit again with the staff of the US Army Family Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Command.
It was a joy accepting the praise that was heaped on Santa America on behalf of the Santas and Mrs. Claus who did all the visiting this past Season!!
A HUGE SANTA SALUTE to:
Santa John Adams (Ft Irwin, Ca),
Santa(s) Anonymous (3 Visits) (Ft Dix, NJ)
Santa Rick Clements (2 visits) (Ft. Carson, Co),
Santa Bill Dexter (West Point, NY),
Santa Jerry and Carol Dryer (Ft. Carson, Co),
Santa Patrick Faulds (Ft. Jackson, SC),
Santa David Himes (Ft. Belvoir, Va),
Mrs. Nancy “Claus” Jones (THREE VISITS!!) (Ft Jackson, SC),
Santa John Leaf (2 visits) (Ft Richardson, Ak),
Santa Claud McPherson (Ft. Polk, La),
Santa Al Motter (2 visits)(Ft. Carson, Co),
Santa Dale and Trish Parris (Walter Reed Hosp),
Santa Rex and Darline Ray (2 visits) (Ft Rucker, Al),
Santa John Scheuch (Ft Riley Ks),
Santa Paul Sheehan (2 visits) (Ft. Eustis, Va)
Fr. Santa Dave Shoemaker (2 visits) (Ft. Benning, Ga),
Santa Rodney Smith (2 visits) (Ft. Belvoir, Va),
Santa Dave Nation (Ft. Meade, Md), – event cancelled while enroute –ice storm
Santa Jerry Owens (Ft. Knox, Ky), – event cancelled while en-route: weather
FINAL TOTAL: 28 (30) visits by 21 Santas/Mrs. Claus to 15 separate Army Garrisons.
In addition, Santa Bob Elkin, Vice President, Santa Relations made a trip to visit with the North East Santa luncheon on Cape Cod and enlisted the volunteer efforts of 24 of their very capable Santas. Following that very successful recruitment campaign, Santa Bob, The Palm Tree Santa Drill Team, my Mrs. Claus and I visited Santa Claus, Indiana for a wonderful weekend of camaraderie with Santas from all over the U.S.A. If you were not there, you missed a wonderful get-together!! With Santa Bob in the lead, we received commitments from 30 more Santas!
On our departure from Santa Claus, Indiana on our way home to Pensacola, Florida, Sharon and I visited four of the Army Garrisons who are interested in the Santa America Military Support Program. We visited with each base’s Family Morale, Welfare, and Recreation folks and introduced the Santas and Mrs. Claus who will be supporting these bases in 2011.
We also let them know that Santa and Mrs. Claus are available to visit:
- Units and organizations celebrating their scheduled Holiday event.
- Units that had been deployed over the Holiday Season and who, upon return, desire to have a “Celebration upon Return!”
- Units that will be deploying and will not return until after the next Holiday Season and wish a pre-deployment party.
- Tree lightings (of course).
- Greeting Units upon their return (Having been a Naval Aviator for a career, I can attest to the fact that the “fly-in” is a time of great joy and celebration).
- Meeting with our returning Wounded Warriors when appropriate in their recovery/rehabilitation to express the thanks of a grateful Nation!
- Supporting a family with a child undergoing PTSD (present traumatic stress disorder) due to the deployment of one or both parents.
- Visit with terminally ill service members or children who are not expected to make it to the following holiday season (See Santa John Scheuch’s blog entitled “Snow for Mason”).
So you can see we really have vastly expanded the MWR’s concept of what Santa America can do and how they may be of value to our military.
As I stated in the Feb 16 blog, we hope to expand this program to the 100 base visits for this coming Season. I know Sharon and I can line up the bases, forts, air stations, and garrisons………now YOU need to step forward and volunteer to be a base Santa.
It is among THE MOST REWARDING and NECESSARY volunteer Santa service you can perform.
With Love, Hope, and Joy!
Santa Jack Arthur
email: Santajack@Santa-America.org
Vice President, Military Support Programs
On Being A Hospice Santa
“This is PART ONE of a three part series on being a hospice Santa. Santa John Scheuch is the Vice President of Santa America Hospice & Hospital Support Services. He is a founding Santa America Santa and a leader in volunteer hospice support.
On being a Hospice Santa…………..
Why would anyone want to be Santa Claus for sick and dying children and adults? Where is the ‘joy” in doing that? The short answer is, it’s what we are called to do. To quote the founder of Santa-America, Santa Ernest Berger, this is where we really demonstrate “Elf before self”.
Why does Santa-America choose these difficult situations to be a focus of our activity? Please see the Santa-America web-site for the “Beginnings” of the organization. This will explain the reason for Santa-America’s existence. But why would an individual put himself through the emotional trauma of being part of THE most difficult time most families ever face?
Quite simply, we visit for the benefit of others.
There are different kinds of Hospice visits. The next few entries will discuss the types and how Santa’s visit benefits families.
The Adult Hospice Visit
Santa visits adults in Hospice care in a nursing home, at home, or at a Hospice House. These adults are facing the end of life, and if not suffering from dementia, they recognize their situation. Hospice care does not hide the fact that death is nearby.
Many seniors had a great love of Christmas as a child, and Santa is a fond memory. When Santa visits and still remembers them, they are overjoyed. In addition, some are still actively teaching wonderful life lessons. I visited a lady who had just passed her 100th birthday. When I saw her, she was sitting in her wheel chair, and had newspaper spread across her bed. She was repotting a plant, “because if I don’t, it will be root bound and die.” Or the lady with less than 2 weeks left due to cancer that had just learned to knit. She was working on a LONG scarf for her son. They decided to live for as long and fully as they could. They did not give up……..and neither should we.
Sometimes the children or grandchildren of a patient may be present. Include them in the visit, as often Santa’s focus on the children brings great joy to the adults.
Visiting with an adult is also an opportunity for Santa to keep his skills sharp. With an adult, if you slip out of character, they will understand. Adult visits make us better Santas for the time when we visit youngsters. Always try to deliver Love, Hope, and Joy with SMILES and a warm (and gentle) Santa hug.
End of Part One
“Santa Wyeth Hatfield : Vice President of Autism Support Services”
We are proud to announce that Santa Wyeth Hatfield will lead our Autism Support Services mission. Santa Wyeth brings a strong personal and professional commitment to the support of our special children and their families challenged by spectrum disorders. Please welcome him to the Santa America team!
Wyeth Hatfield is a Masters Level Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has worked with both children and adults in circumstances ranging from traumatic crisis intervention to ongoing outpatient counseling. His work over the last 20+ years has allowed him to work with people in a variety of situations including:
- Adults, children, and infants with developmental disabilities
- Emergency room crisis assessment and intervention
- Severe and persistent mental illness
- Families and individuals in homelessness
- Pediatric inpatient and intensive care hospital social work
- Abuse and neglect prevention, assessment, and intervention
- Severe trauma, grief, PTSD, and end of life issues
He currently serves as the Director of Social Work/Outreach at a group of healthcare clinics for the uninsured, underinsured, and the homeless in Evansville, Indiana. He oversees clinic social workers, a community outreach team to the homeless, and licensed counselors working in the clinical setting. In addition to these roles, he is an adjunct college Instructor and also has a private counseling practice.
His current community service includes being a board member for two not for profit organizations that serve children and adults who are homeless, as well as people of all ages who have mental health issues, respectively.
In his personal life, Wyeth has been married to Jo, a wonderful woman who has often been Mrs. Claus along side him, since 1989. They have three boys, the youngest of which is Santa Kas, who was recognized at the 2011 Jim Yellig Santa Claus workshop. The Hatfields try to make the Santa experience as much of a family activity as possible.
Wyeth has portrayed Santa Claus to children in homelessness as well as to children in professional settings for the last 13 years or so. Much of this Santa experience has been in free service to families and children in challenging life situations. He will tell you that these have been his favorite kinds of visits, and that being a Santa is his favorite job. He and his wife recently joined a local hospice, and have donated time as Mr. & Mrs. Claus in this setting as well.
Santa Wyeth Hatfield
Evansville, Indiana
812-250-1862
santawyeth@santa-america.org
santawyeth@gmail.com
Vice President, Autism Support Programs
Santa America Response Team
SANTA AMERICA FORMS NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM!!
It seems tornadoes, floods, hurricanes are impacting somewhere across America every week!
The Santa Community is responding with huge hearts and warm hugs to devastated communities. Example: the Lone Star Santas are on the road this very minute heading to Oklahoma City and Joplin to bring comfort to children and families who have lost everything. Santa America is 100% in support of our Texas brothers and sisters and their mission for good reason.
Santa America was born in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. We were founded just months before Katrina hit, and visited over 2000 “Hurricane Children” and their families in shelters and FEMA trailers all over the Gulf Coast. Santa knows about the needs of communities hit by disaster!
To have a Positive, Pro-active, Planned (Triple P) effect with the children and families impacted by disaster, Santa America began discussing the creation of a National Santa Emergency Team in 2008. Other mission priorities supporting children in hospital, hospice, with autism and our military support programs needed attention, but we never forgot the value of Santa visits to the shelters bringing Love, Hope and Joy wrapped in a big Santa hug! It makes a real difference to a child living with insecurity and fear 2-3 weeks…or even months…. after a disaster strikes.
Santa America is forming a “National Santa Emergency Response Team” of 15 Santas (plus Mrs. Claus) who will be Santa America compliant and specially trained to support and augment healthcare responders. Team members must be physically able and ready to go on one week’s notice and be able to stay at a location for up to six weeks after arrival. Santa must be able to return to the location for follow-up visits of up to a week for several years following a disaster. All training, travel and living expenses will be paid through sponsorships from foundations, corporations, and property insurance + re-insurance companies.
The Santa Emergency Response Team will be under the direction of a designated Santa America Vice President who will be a member of our Executive Committee.
Our team will be under the on-site planning and coordination authority of a national charity and/or a public heath agency. Our role is to augment emergency responders by bringing Love, Hope and Joy wrapped in a big warm Santa hug to the community. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also act to distribute emergency aid gathered by other organizations.
If you want to join and support this elite emergency response team please contact me directly by emailing: santaernest@santa-america.org. If you are a retired fire, police, military or emergency responder, YOU are a perfect candidate to join this program! Again, we are forming a national team of 15 Santas + Mrs. Claus who have the heart and the ability to respond on one week’s notice to disasters anywhere in the USA.
SACRIFICE
Sacrifice!! Memorial day is about those men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice!
The Palm Tree Santas Drill Team members made a few, very tiny sacrifices today to show our honor and respect on Memorial Day to our heroes!
We were up at 4:00am, traveling from various cities, 2-2 1/2 hours to march in the Sanford Memorial Day Parade.
The parade was approximately 12 blocks long, but every block and every side of the street were filled with Patriots, 4-8 rows deep. It seemed that every child and every person had an American flag waving at us, cheering for the Santas Drill Team and every camera was pointed in our direction. Santa Dan and Santa Jim led us on Dan’s Red Harley Trike with our New display of our US Flag 8′ tall, flanked in a fan spread formation by our Military Service flags and POW flag. These were over 6′ tall and had a fan spread of over 6′ wide, like a giant colorful American Peacock! Mounted on the rear of the trike, it was an awesome sight for the Santas to follow as 6 Santas marched, with our faithful Eagle Scout Drill Instructor calling cadence like the seasoned D.I. he is and Santa Frank marching with us playing his Sax. We were the hit of the parade! Santa Frank broke out a new “Santa” tune on his Sax, to liven up our march a little…“When the Santas Come Marching In” ho ho ho, the crowd definitely enjoyed us and appreciated us.
This was small town Florida, this was small town America, honoring the men and women who gave their lives for our country. (pause) I had sent out press releases, we saw TV and newspaper there, hopefully we will see some pictures from Orlando and or Sanford media. You all would have had a little tear of joy for us, had you seen us!
But wait, we were not even nearly through, following the Parade, we were invited to participate in the “Remembrance” Ceremony! I hope some pictures will surface somewhere, because I can’t invoke the words to describe the setting for their “Remembrance” Ceremony. If you can imagine a small Veterans park about the size of a football field as a peninsula jutting out over the water, with a centerpiece Memorial, topped with a life size eagle in full wing spread, well that is just a start.
If you can estimate the number of folks you could stand in the area of a football field, you can estimate the crowd of folks gathered to see and hear the Remembrance Ceremony, 500-1,000?? more??
There was nothing boring about any of the 21 separate presentations! When the Palm Tree Santas Drill Team was announced we performed to make you all proud. It was the first time we were able to use our recently purchased sound system (out of our own pockets) and with the crowd we were performing for, even those folks the further est away could hear and were paying attention to our story!
And why not, the Santas were presenting “The Story of the Star Spangled Banner”, which for those who have not heard us, is the Story of the War of 1812 and how and why Francis Scott Key wrote this song, that has become our National Anthem. With Santa Frank playing “The Star Spangled Banner” on his saxophone, throughout the story, again, we put a few tears in a lot of, I mean in a lot of lot of folks eyes! ho ho ho!
I am confident, if someone had an applause meter, we received the loudest and longest applause of any other single presentation and probably even more than the total applause at the end of the Remembrance Ceremony. Well maybe the only thing louder was the 21 Gun Salute by the Marines, they used what looked like shotguns instead of rifles!!!!! or maybe the fly-in of the helicopter, then as he hovered for a couple of minutes over the top of the Wing Spread Eagle, that was really an awesome sight! and it was pretty loud!!
After the parade and ceremony we received so very many kind words, it was almost overwhelming! The City Managers we had worked with to appear this year, were already telling us we had to promise to come back in 2012, we were the hit of the entire day, etc, etc.
Afterwards we went to a reception at the VFW by the DAV Chapter! Seems everyone who was at the Remembrance Ceremony was there, as we were overwhelmed by the praise heaped on us! Best tasting hamburger, hot dog and beverage I have ever had on Remembrance Day! they probably had some Apple Pie too, but this Santa settled for some home made oatmeal cookies! ho ho ho!
Sacrifice??? up at 4:00am, a tank of gas, I don’t think so, that was no sacrifice!! this was a blessing!
Yes we were rewarded, we were blessed by God to be able to do what we did today! I am certain every member of our Palm Tree Santas Drill Team is bursting with pride today, and I hope every member of the Palm Tree Santas is equally proud, as we represent you and all Santas everywhere, and to those team members who might not have been able to make this particular trip, they were with us in spirit and each team member shares our pride!! and thanks to PTS member Norm for riding over to support us from the east coast, missed you in Cocoa Beach!
Thank you one and all for your participation today, and to everyone for your support and your brotherly love!
Next up for the Palm Tree Santas Drill Team, Friday June 24th 6:00pm Ocala Shrine Club, Full Dress Presentations!
Possibles for the Drill Team, 4th of July Parade? where?? and 4th Celebration Presentation, 8:30pm Alachua, Fl ??
Next for the Palm Tree Santas, that wonderful wacky day we call “Christmas in July”, last year we had 71 Santas, Ms Clauses and Elves in our Christmas Parade, can we top that??? Fri/Sat July 8th & 9th The Sponge Docks Merchants Association are committed to make this Third Annual a “Huge” event this year, more info to follow!
Santa Bob Elkin
Obesity
Hello Fellow Santa’s, Mrs. Claus and Helpers,
Santa America is privileged to speak to Santa’s through this newsletter. It is our goal to bring you timely and factual information concerning Santa’s health and those around him. We hope these articles will be eagerly anticipated and shared for the benefit of many.
As Vice President of Santa Health Programs I am committed to bringing you useful information in a clear understandable manner. I have a vested interest in all this too. You see, I’m a Type 2 Diabetic with a hard to control Blood Pressure and to top it off I have some strange growths on my Kidneys which are still baffling my doctors.
Also, for a guy who hates taking pills I seem to always have a handful to force down in the morning and at night. I’m sharing this so you don’t think I’m some Santa who has dodged all the bullets. Oh, by the way add two back operations, removal of the Medial Meniscus on the left knee and Acute Appendicitis in late November of 2009. So Santa’s; in my small way I share your pain but enough about me.
Under the umbrella of Santa’s Health, Santa America is concerned with the rise in Childhood Diabetes and Adolescent Obesity and other children’s health issues. It is a growing problem which is costly in terms of health care money and children’s health problems. Santa America will be addressing these and other issues in the coming months so stay tuned for more information!
The following is an article gives some starling statistics about Childhood Obesity which was provided by The First Lady’s “Let’s Move Initiative” in their March email.
Obesity by the numbers
Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. If we don’t solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.
How Did We Get Here?
Thirty years ago, most people led lives that kept them at a healthy weight. Kids walked to and from school every day, ran around at recess, participated in gym class, and played for hours after school before dinner. Meals were home-cooked with reasonable portion sizes and there was always a vegetable on the plate. Eating fast food was rare and snacking between meals was an occasional treat.
Today, children experience a very different lifestyle. Walks to and from school have been replaced by car and bus rides. Gym class and after-school sports have been cut; afternoons are now spent with TV, video games, and the internet. Parents are busier than ever and families eat fewer home-cooked meals. Snacking between meals is now commonplace.
Thirty years ago, kids ate just one snack a day, whereas now they are trending toward three snacks, resulting in an additional 200 calories a day. And one in five school-age children has up to six snacks a day.
Portion sizes have also exploded- they are now two to five times bigger than they were in years past. Beverage portions have grown as well- in the mid-1970s, the average sugar-sweetened beverage was 13.6 ounces compared to today, kids think nothing of drinking 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened beverages at a time.
In total, we are now eating 31 percent more calories than we were forty years ago–including 56 percent more fats and oils and 14 percent more sugars and sweeteners. The average American now eats fifteen more pounds of sugar a year than in 1970.
Eight to 18-year old adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media, including, TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies, and only one-third of high school students get the recommended levels of physical activity.
Now that’s the bad news. The good news is that by making just a few lifestyle changes, we can help our children lead healthier lives–and we already have the tools we need to do it. We just need the will.
Santa Lou
Contact me at: SantaLou@Santa-America.org
Photo Stars Wanted
Santa America is looking for Santa’s to be Calendar Art.
Are you a Santa who has shed 20, 40 or more than 70 pounds? Do you have a before and After picture? Would you pose for a Santa Calendar promoting good health habits.
We want to have your picture as one of our Santa Models who in the interest of good health have shed a few pounds. We would like one picture of you “before” and one picture “after” losing pounds.
For consenting to have your pictures as part of our calendar you will receive a quantity of calendars for family and friends.
The Calendars will be sold as a fund raiser with the proceeds going to Santa America, Inc. Participating in the Calendar Art will enable Santa America, Inc to continue its work with Children’s Hospice Care, visits to Autistic Children, programs for the families of returning service personal and addressing children’s health needs.
Please contact me at: Santalou@Santa-america.org.
Snow for Mason…
March 29, 2011
Tonight as I write this, my heart is heavy with sadness. I am also confident in the knowledge that God has blessed one of Santa’s children and welcomed him into His arms.
Mason earned his reward today and will no longer suffer the pain of a tumor that would not allow him to stay here with his family and friends.
Mason and Santa met on Christmas Eve 2010 along with his brother and sister, and his parents. During the visit, Santa left a lap blanket (used by Santa to keep warm in the sleigh), some Santa-America HUGS, teddy bears for brother Maverick and sister Ally, and a snow globe for Mason. Snow has always been an important part of the Mason’s family’s life, and they had been praying for snow for Christmas since April. And because of that prayer, Santa was going to try to create the biggest Christmas present ever – Snow for Mason.
The snow delivery really did happen, and Mason and his family had the only snow – 8” no less – for miles around, all on Christmas Eve. As it turns out, it was the last snow Mason was able to go out and play in. There were snow storms after Christmas, but Mason’s health just would not allow him to play in it. Read the rest of this entry »
SANTA CLAIMS ANTARCTICA FOR ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD!
On March 22, Santa Ernest paid a visit to the continent of Antarctica. Santa crossed the “Polar Circle” at 66 degrees longitude on the Dutch exploration ship Pancius and claimed the entire continent with Love! Hope! And Joy! for all the special the Children of the World! Santa brought some Santa America “Hugs” to use in trying to sign up the penguins as his southern most Santa Elves, but they did not seem all that interested. I think they would have difficulty anyway working in Santa’s workshop, as they only have flippers for balance and swimming……it would be hard for them to hold a hammer or paintbrush! They have over 300 feathers to an inch of their skin surface so their flipper is too dense to actually BE a paintbrush! Santa needs to think about this a bit more. Read the rest of this entry »
Help me keep our “Santa Map” Updated
Hello, Santa-America Santa’s. In an ongoing effort to keep the information on our “Santa Map” as up to date as it can be, please take a moment to look at your information as it is on the map and let me know via email if that info needs to be changed. If it’s all correct there is no need to email. Just let me know what is incorrect so that I can get the that information posted. Remember, my email is address is elfnita@santa-america.org.
Reflections on a “SUPER” Atlanta Red Suit Roundtable!
It’s been a few weeks since the “Red Suit Roundtable” in Atlanta. It’s likely to be the largest gathering of Santas on the east coast this year(over 100!). Everyone involved put on a great event!
What really impressed and, frankly, moved me is the “giving spirit” that so many Santa and Mrs. Claus demonstrate every day of the year!
They have a very special and unique “gift” that they have chosen to share with our very most precious little people. As we say in Santa America: “It’s about the Children.” It’s ALWAYS about serving our little ones….”Elf Before Self!” The Santas who have joined Santa America as volunteers have all experienced a miracle……the More you give of yourself……the More you receive in return! Simple and eternal.
Love! Hope! and Joy! are among the three most precious gifts we all possess……and we never, never, never run out of them!
Thank you Santa America volunteers……you really are “The Best of the Best!”…..you are sooooooo special!
Love! Hope! and Joy!
Santa Ernest
Lt. General Ret. R. Steven Whitcomb joins Santa America Board of Directors
Santa America welcomes Lt. General Ret. R. Steven Whitcomb to our Board of Directors. In addition to his Board duties, “Steve” will join Dave Cameron is providing guidance to our Military Support Program. Santa Jack Arthur is the Vice President of Santa America Military Support Programs (see “Services” Tab on website) , serving our military and their families. Under Santa Jack’s direction, your program grew rapidly in 2010, and we expect to visit from 60-100 bases, USO’s. Military & VA Hospitals and deploying/returning units in 2011! Our military deserve THE VERY BEST we can give them and Santa America is committed to delivering on this important part of our service mission.
Love! Hope! and Joy! comes wrapped in a big warm “camo dressed” Santa Hug for our troops and their families. Santas everywhere……..can you hear the bugle and drum beat?……it’s time to join up!
Here is General Whitcomb’s career bio.
Santa Jim Jeffrey’s 1st Year as a Santa America Santa
I have wanted to be Santa for a long time, and I spent about a year studying how to become Santa and assembling all the clothing and gear My personal goal is to focus on worthy causes
I can really understand families who are facing serious illness. My wife and I are high school sweethearts. We had been married for 9 years and our sons were ages 4 years, 2 years and 5 months when my wife was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Our young sons went through almost two years of having a very sick Mom. My dear wife bravely faced harsh chemotherapy and surgery followed by more chemotherapy, radiation and a long period of rest and recovery. She beat cancer with help and support from many people and is strong and healthy 22 years later.
In my research, I found www.Santa-America.org! Santa America seemed like the exact type of affiliation that I was looking for.
SA Military Program Deployed!
February 16, 2011 | 
Author
To all the Military Support Program Santas, I express my gratitude and congratulations for a job very very well done this past Season. We had 13 of 23 Army Garrisons participate in our program with some 15 Santas and a Mrs. Claus making some 23 visits. While I have not yet had an opportunity to visit with our host, the Army Family Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Command in Washington, D.C., I have heard back from a number of our host Garrisons indicating their complete joy with participating Santas and Mrs. Claus. The most common statement was that they “finally had a visit from the REAL Santa!!” (of course, in Mrs. Claus’ case, a Volunteer Coordinator I spoke to was especially taken with Nancy’s performance and presentation are most interested in having her return this coming Season!!).
To those who did not have an opportunity to visit their Garrison, please be prepared for a much smoother reception in 2011. Several of the 2010 non-participating Garrisons have already contacted me asking that “we” make plans earlier this year. I expect to be working with the current list of 23 Army Garrisons more closely and during the pre-season.
As to the future of the Military Support Program, we plan (and already have a contact or two) to expand to support the Marine Wounded Warrior Regiment, the Air Force W2 Program, and the Navy’s Safe Harbor Program. This is going to require the commitment many more Santas for our program. I believe Santa America will visit 60-100 military bases and facilities this year! If each of you would take a look at the Santas on the “Find A Santa” page of WWW.Santa-America.org I think you will agree, we really have “the Navy Seals of Santas” in our organization… AND our military and their families need MANY more!! When you attend your next local or regional Santa luncheon, please take the opportunity to Explain the Hospice/Hospital, Military Support, Autism Support, and Public Health Programs of Santa America with your fellow Santas and request that they seriously consider joining Santa America. There is a tremendous (and growing)need for our unique service mission.
2010 participating Santas: Please get your visit stories and pictures to me so I can post them on the Santa Blog.
Again, to each of you who made yourselves available this past season, I thank you for your assistance and congratulate you individually and collectively on a wonderful start for 2011!
With Love, Hope and Joy!
Santa Jack Arthur
Vice President, Military Support Programs
Santa makes an Autism Visit!
January 24, 2011 | Author
Santa Gene already has the spirit of Santa America in his heart! We are joyfully awaiting his application form for becoming a Santa America volunteer. Love! Hope! and Joy! Every Day of the Year!
Santa Ernest,
I have been asked to send you the following account of a visit I made to a youngster in Tacoma, WA, last month. I am not a Santa America member but would like to become one. (Santa Gene can apply for volunteer status by contacting Santa Bob Elkin and or Elf Nita Mickwee…..they will guide him through the application process)
Santa Gene
Santa Dennis passed along an email from Santa Mark in Orlando, Fla., in early December asking if someone might be able to do a Christmas Eve visit to an autistic 12-year-old in a city about 30 miles from mine. I called Santa Mark and volunteered. He gave me the boy’s name, Adam, and his mother’s phone number. I called her and arranged an early afternoon visit. Mrs. Claus accompanied me and we saw Adam outside playing when we pulled up in front of his apartment building. He saw us and was mildly curious as he viewed two people decked out in red sitting in a green car at his front door. I got out and hollered, “Hi, Adam.” His jaw dropped and then he smiled broadly. We were coming to see HIM.
Mrs. Claus and I gave him big hugs and he took us to meet his mother, Tara. Mom gave me a big hug and slipped a wrapped gift from behind her back into my hand and I tucked it behind me. Mrs. Claus had kept Adam busy asking about his Christmas tree, which he was proud to show her. The four of us talked for a few minutes before I pulled Mom’s gift from behind my back and told Adam I’d brought him something from the North Pole. I told him to open the small gift now, that Santa would be bringing other presents later that night when he was fast asleep. The gift was a computer game he’d been asking for and he was amazed that I knew how much he had been looking forward to getting it.
I wear a palm squeaker beneath the glove on my left hand, which enables me to conduct a quick naughty or nice test by touching a person’s nose. If it squeaks, they are squeaky clean (nice) and if it doesn’t, Santa and that person need to talk. Santa touched Adam’s nose and it squeaked. He was mystified until I told him what it all meant. Then he was jubilant and eager to share the news with his mom. “Adam, there’s something you need to know,” I said as I pulled his mother close and wrapped my arm around her. I touched Mom’s nose and it squeaked. “You have a really good mother,” I said. “See? Her nose squeaked, too. You need to remember how good your mom is. Remember it every day.”
I had Adam, his mom and Mrs. Claus sit in the living room and I told the story of “Jimmy and the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.” If you are not familiar with the story, I tell it using a mouthcoil, a 26-foot ribbon of brightly colored paper carefully tucked into a coil about half the size of a ping pong ball. I pull and pull and pull this ribbon out of the palm of my hand as I conclude the tale of Jimmy, who epitomizes the ability to share, even when he had very little to give away.
Adam and Tara were touched by the story and delighted with the ending. I reminded Adam that he needed to be like Jimmy every chance he had to share, even if the cost would be high, because the rewards of sharing are so great. I told him to keep the 26 feet of brightly colored paper as a reminder.
Adam asked where the reindeer were and why we had come to his home by car. I explained that because of holiday traffic, so many people flying to visit relatives for Christmas, the FAA requires Santa to fly to people’s homes only at night. I’d parked the sleigh and our reindeer at Sea-Tac International Airport and had borrowed a car to come to his home. Adam appeared satisfied with my response. I told him Santa had to get Mrs. Claus back to the North Pole so Santa could begin his long night of delivering toys to children all over the world and Santa would be back to Adam’s house later that night. We told both Adam and his mom to be in bed early so they would be asleep when Santa arrived.
After Christmas, Santa Mark heard from Tara, who said her son “won’t let his mom dust the ribbon for fear of losing its magic.”
Santa Gene, Bremerton, WA
Special Santa Visit Acknowledged!
Love, Hope, and Joy wrapped in a Hug
(aka John Scheuch)
jssanta@aol.com
913-908-4937
Santa John,Kelsey’s Grammy here. . .just writing to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to make a visit to see our sweet Kelsey last Monday night! I am so proud to know the “real” Santa; and can’t thank you enough for all you do for the special children in the KC area. We had the privilege of being there when you made your first visit to see Kelsey at her house when she was just two months old back in December of 2007. We were dealing with so many scared feelings at that time and through your visit, you gave her Daddy, Mommy, and us hope for our baby Kelsey.Now fast forward to December 2010 and Kelsey is 3 and doing so well and showing us what a smart girl she is. We were sorry we couldn’t be there last Monday for your visit but let me tell you, our daughter Kelly and Kelsey told us all about it. Each time I mentioned Santa John on the phone, Kelsey would go into her “talking” and I know she will have lots more to tell me when we see her on Christmas Day.Just wanted to tell you how special you are to our family and thank you for your Santa service at Christmas time. If you have a place I could send a donation to help with your expenses during the Christmas season, please e-mail it to me.Thank you and God Bless,Chuck and Marilyn Haynes (Kelsey Dahl’s Grandpa Chuck and Grammy)Great Bend, Kansas
Canadian Santa Mike Pytlik Gets “Mountie” Background Investigation!
Canadian Santa Michael Pytlik received his background security clearence from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canada has a much higher level of background investigation for anyone working with special needs children and adults. The backgrounding process is MUCH MORE involved than our USA background checks!
Congratulations, Santa Michael!