Special efforts

WASILLA — Who says there’s only one Kris Kringle?

Thanks to the Special Santa program, the largest gift-giving enterprise in the Mat-Su Valley, anyone willing can become a certifiable Santa and a genuine Jolly Old Elf by giving for children who might otherwise go without for Christmas.

The Mat-Su Valley has its own annex of Santa’s workshop in Wasilla, bustling with activity as volunteer “elves” arrange stacks of toys, books, clothing and other Christmas goodies. Special Santa began 11 years ago, presenting about 90 underprivileged children with presents that first year.

“We’re now the largest program in the community,” CEO (Chief Elf Organizer) Mari Jo Parks said.

Working in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots, Special Santa delivered gifts to more than 1,717 children from 606 Valley families last year and, if the mounds of presents stockpiled already are any indication, this could be the program’s best season yet.

Parks, dressed appropriately in Santa Claus earrings and a red and green sweater embossed with a Christmas tree, spoke proudly of the program’s success.

“Nobody is ever turned away,” she said.

For U.S. Marines, distributing toys is a long-standing tradition. Since 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed more than 370 million toys to more than 173 million needy children, the program reports. In recent years, despite the mobilization of a large percentage of Marines overseas, the program, with the help of local distributors like Special Santa, has continued full force.

Marines still deliver to many children, but where personnel is short, local programs help to get presents to all of the children in an area or community, which can be an especially difficult task in places like the remote areas of Alaska.

“If anything, the people out in the Bush need it even more,” USMC Cpl. Gary Himmighoefer said of the program. “We’re doing this for the kids of Alaska.”

Himmighoefer is a Toys for Tots organizer in Alaska on assignment — one that’s not as easy as it might at first seem. Himmighoefer said gathering toys isn’t exactly what Marines train for, but for the most part kids are matched up with new toys.

Through various sources, including school nurses and family outreach programs, Special Santa provides children with wish lists that include their first name, age, winter clothing sizes and five present suggestions. If a person or group wants to sponsor a child they are asked to spend between $50 and $100 by providing gifts from the child’s list.

The elves then prepare a sack of presents for each child or family that often includes warm clothing and stocking stuffers, Parks said. Every child also gets a book, and every family a game it can play together.

Starting with Halloween Hollow at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, Special Santa and Toys for Tots conduct several fund-raisers and accept toy donations leading up to the holiday, and several local businesses also contribute, Parks said. Organizations like the Girl Scouts of America and Wasilla High School Honor Society also put in time filling sacks.

Although all donations are welcome, Himmighoefer said Toys for Tots attempts to make presents “as age appropriate as possible,” and that the program this year especially needs donations geared toward older children.

“We’re really having a shortage for the older kids,” he said. Himmighoefer suggests sports equipment, video games (as long as they’re not rated Mature) and cheap CD players as great donations for older kids.

As both organizations work to make sure every child has a happy holiday, Himmighoefer and Parks they are addressing recent concerns about nationwide toy recalls. Toys are all checked against recall lists, and any recalled toys won’t be distributed.

“We have checked to the best of our knowledge,” Parks said.

Anyone who wants to become a Special Santa, wants to donate or knows of a child who could benefit from the program may contact the Santa Hotline at 761-3770.