Christmas is a magical time of year—the decorations, the lights, and the joy of giving and receiving gifts. At Chaddock, we bring that magic to life for over 400 children and families through our Santa Express program.
Last year, at a school Christmas party, a 3-year-old boy received a bike through Santa Express.
“This little kid lost his mind,” recalled Shawna Bunnell, Chaddock’s Outreach & Church Relations Manager and organizer of Santa Express. “He had his hands on his face. He was screaming, and jumping up and down. Then he got on the bike and just went off down the hallway. Everybody was so excited and happy—and he was so excited and happy.”
It’s moments like these that capture the essence of Santa Express—moments of pure joy that show children they are seen, valued, and loved.
Thanks to the incredible support of donors and volunteers, Santa Express provides personalized Christmas gifts to children in our residential, school, and foster care programs. Beyond the presents, these gifts help our kids feel cared for, knowing that someone fulfilled their holiday wishes.
“This is an opportunity to show them, ‘Hey, I care about you,'” shared Shawna. “When they’re at Chaddock, we can’t go back and take care of the things that they didn’t have five years ago, three years ago, two years ago. What we can do is make sure that right now they are loved and cared for, and we can give them everything that they need and a whole lot of what they want at Christmas.”
A Community Effort
Making this magic happen takes countless hours and the dedication of many volunteers. For first-time volunteer Maggie Henke, it’s all about spreading the holiday spirit.
“It’s a great thing for those kids to open those presents that they actually did request and still keep that holiday spirit alive. It’s just a great way to really make those kids’ happy holidays come true,” said Maggie.
Susie Elquan, another volunteer, described her experience as meaningful and uplifting:
“It just feels good to give back to the community, and it’s a very worthwhile cause,” she shared.
Susie encourages others to get involved, even if it’s just a few hours.
“If you have a few hours, come on over. I think you’ll enjoy it and want to come back,” she said.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Would you like to learn more about Santa Express or find out how you can help bring joy to children this Christmas? Whether through donating or volunteering, your support makes all the difference.
Click here to get involved and learn more!
