Resslin' Around, by Casey Ressler

Santa comes to town

Yesterday, thousands of kids crammed into Raven Hall for this year's installment of Halloween Hollow. It has become a Halloween tradition for many families, as it provides a safe place where children can go to trick-or-treat.

It also serves a bigger purpose, however. Each year, Halloween Hollow kicks off the holiday season for the Special Santa program, as all money and toys raised at Halloween Hollow go to help provide Christmas to those less fortunate during the holidays.

I've watched the program go from a simple operation, essentially run by Mari Jo Parks and a couple of volunteers, to one of the most important social services that take place here in the Valley. Parks is still running it, but she gets plenty of help these days from countless volunteers who come out and help in any way they can.

In a way, it's sad that the program has had to grow so fast so quick, because it shows how many families are fighting for every nickel and dime out there. In a perfect world, there wouldn't be a need for the program, because every child would have a couple of Christmas presents under the tree, but we don't live in a perfect world.

Parks' dedication never wavers, and the rest of us could take a cue from her this holiday season. The Special Santa program, which operates under Kids Are People, Inc., never rests -- Parks and her volunteers work all year, pounding the pavement in the summer for donations, lining up the Halloween Hollow, forming partnerships with businesses and organizations and then, ultimately, collecting toys and distributing them. She and her volunteers don't ask for anything in return -- they say the joy in their hearts when they watch the children get their presents is enough.

Some children ask for things you'd expect them to ask for -- a video game, a bike, the hot toy of the year. Others ask for things that a child shouldn't have to ask for on Christmas -- a blanket, warm socks, a warm coat. They only want the necessities in life, so they can keep warm during the winter. Who knows? Their family may be struggling to keep the house heated, and bills may be piling up. Is it too much to ask for a child to be warm?

That's why it's nice to see so many people supporting Halloween Hollow. It is the biggest fund-raiser of the year for the Special Santa program, and because so many kids come out and trick-or-treat, Parks and her "elves" will be able to buy a coat for a kid, buy a blanket for them, and yes, buy that special toy that will definitely put a smile on their face in a couple months. It's a huge boost for the organization, at just the right time.

As Halloween passes and the frenzy of buying Christmas presents begins shortly, remember the work of the Special Santa program. Buy one extra toy this year, and drop it off at one of the many collection points. You may not get the joy of seeing a child receiving their only gift, but in your heart you'll know what good you did -- and isn't that the real meaning of the holidays? You don't have to spend a ton of money, but remember that anything helps. If you can't buy a toy, slip them a buck or two so they can go out and buy things that children in the Valley want and need.

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