Special Santa program brings Christmas joy to local families

For more than a quarter century, the Mat-Su Special Santa project has helped spread the magic of Christmas. More than 50,000 local children, newborns to 18, have received holiday gifts through the program, which provides families in need with presents for their children.

An outreach of the Palmer-based nonprofit Alaska Family Services, the Special Santa program has grown into a staple of the Valley Christmas season. Since serving 50 children in its first year, 1997, the program has expanded its reach to more than 3,300 children from 1,114 families in 2023.

In addition to Christmas presents, the growth of the program has also enabled AFS to provide essentials like blankets, hygiene products, school supplies, and winter clothing. Desiré Shepler, president and CEO of Alaska Family Services, said the growth highlights the increasing need in the community, as families face rising living expenses and post-COVID economic challenges.

“Special Santa provides hope and joy to children while alleviating financial burdens for their families during the holiday season,” she said.

Increased need and expanded reach come with more expenses. The Special Santa program has gotten a financial lift in recent years from the Mat-Su Health Foundation, including a $50,000 grant in August to help offset the costs of this year’s program, including building leases, salaries, utilities, and supplies.

This enables the program to focus on playing Santa.

“The grant is the foundation of our ability to bring hope, joy, and relief to thousands of families every year. It allows Alaska Family Services to work to ensure children and families can feel supported and cared for when they need it most,” Shepler said. “The Mat-Su Special Santa program would not be possible without the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s generosity.”

As part owner of the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Mat-Su Health Foundation has been a partner in community health and wellness since 2007. In the 17 years of its existence, the Foundation has invested more than $130 million of its share of profits into organizations around the Valley like Alaska Family Services.

While the grant is invaluable to the operation of the Special Santa program, it does not cover the full scope of the program’s operational needs. That’s where volunteers come in.

Like many nonprofits, the Special Santa program relies heavily on volunteer effort. During the Christmas season, that translates to more than 40 volunteers per day from the community contributing their time, resulting in more than 18,000 volunteer service hours each season.

“This remarkable community engagement demonstrates the program’s significance as a unifying force in the Mat-Su Borough. The Health Foundation grant helps to ensure that Special Santa continues to unite our community and bring together local businesses, individuals, and AFS staff in a shared mission for the holidays,” Shepler said. “We deeply appreciate the Mat-Su Health Foundation’s continued partnership and always look forward to this time of the year where we are working together to make a meaningful impact on our community.”

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www.specialsanta.net

https://akafs.org/