Ghostly holiday provides magic at Christmas

Resslin' Around, by Casey Ressler

Everyone knows that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole and works all year gearing up for Christmas.

But right here in the Valley is our very own Santa Claus, and her big Christmas push officially begins each October. Right now, she is working furiously to make sure a good Halloween makes a great Christmas.

Mari Jo Parks, along with her team of elves -- individuals and local businesses -- runs the Special Santa program, making sure hundreds of children have Christmas gifts under their tree every year.

The first big event of the Christmas season doesn't involve anything Christmas-related, however -- it involves ghosts and ghouls, costumes and candy.

Halloween Hollow takes place on Halloween, and it gives kids a safe place to go play games and trick-or-treat. On the Alaska State Fairgrounds, parents will find booths set up by local organizations and businesses, and at each booth, their kids can play games, win prizes and get candy.

It's a great Halloween alternative, but come December, the real impact of Halloween Hollow can be felt throughout the community. Admission to the Halloween event is one unwrapped toy, which becomes part of the Special Santa program. In December, all of those toys will be combined with the thousands more donated by people, and Christmas will be born for many kids in a Wasilla warehouse.

Last year the partnership was a huge success, and it helped Parks and her team of "elves" reach more than 2,200 kids who wouldn't have had a Christmas otherwise. This year, she hopes to help even more kids.

From now until Christmas, Parks and her helpers will be collecting toys, identifying families, organizing the entire process and getting ready for the week before Christmas.

It's a huge job, and the Valley is lucky to have people who are energetic, who want to help and who are making a difference in the community.

Now is the time to start thinking about ways to help for the holiday season. Canned food drives can help put Thanksgiving dinner on a Valley table this November.

Buying a toy now, right after the dividend checks have come out, may be financially easier for a family than waiting until Christmastime, when everyone is buying.

If purchasing something is out of the question, maybe starting to look for volunteer opportunities during the holiday season is a good idea. I know Santa is always looking for helpers with the Special Santa program, starting right now.

Asking for help is always tough, especially so during the holiday seasons.

With the many positive programs -- and volunteers -- in the Valley, it makes things easier for those who may need help.

Events like the Halloween Hollow make sure families that need a little extra hand get it, and that the holidays can be a positive, uplifting time rather than a depressing one.

Casey Ressler (valleylife@frontiersman.com) is the Valley Life editor.