A letter to Santa is a very special piece of correspondence because it shares a child’s utmost holiday wishes and sometimes personal secrets.
Santa doesn’t intend to let any letter go unanswered. His team of Santa helpers were able to send replies to more than 150 children through a Seniors and Seniors project Saturday, Dec. 17.
“When they write they expect an answer, so as adults and young people we’ve got to keep that going, that trust. Especially now in the climate we’re living in,” said Phyllis Tyler, a retired educator from Flossmoor. “So, this is a great thing to do. I’m excited.”
and Tate Bowers of Chicago Heights, right. (Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)
The project paired Homewood-Flossmoor High School National Honor Society students in their senior year with community members who are senior citizens. Before the letter-writing project began, the volunteers used a Q&A game to get acquainted, with questions such as What’s your favorite holiday activity? and What’s your favorite holiday memory?
For four hours, these 40 Santa elves gathered around tables at Wiley’s Grill in Flossmoor to handle a pile of letters collected at Letter to Santa boxes at Irwin Center in Homewood and the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District offices at Goldberg Park in Flossmoor. Jennah Carlson, recreation supervisor with H-F parks, said this year a second mailbox was added and the number of letters doubled to 160.
Volunteers used paper with a candy-cane striped border to send a reply. Each volunteer assured the letter writer that Santa would be on his way Dec. 24. While Santa doesn’t give up secrets on what gifts he’ll leave, he appreciated the lists of requests – everything from Legos, trucks, a butterfly pillow, a doll from Disney’s “Encanto” movie, a Harry Potter wand and toys for a pet and more. The Elf on the Shelf doll was also popular.
of Flossmoor and Gayle McCormick of Homewood. (Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)
“I have a future business person. He wants a cash register,” Tyler said. “I think that’s great. He’ll learn to save and be a business person.”
“I think they’re being pretty polite with Santa and not asking for anything outrageous. They have like four presents each,” said H-F senior Tate Bowers of Chicago Heights.
Many letters had “I love you” messages to Santa, and several promised to leave Santa cookies and carrots for the reindeer.
And of course, Santa wants to know if the letter writer has been naughty or nice this year.
Senior volunteer Susan Gowen of Olympia Fields said her letter writer said she pays attention at school, “and she fights with her brother a little bit. Who doesn’t fight with a sibling?” Gowen wondered.
The letter writing project was a team effort for the H-F Park District with the villages of Homewood and Flossmoor. Stephanie Wright, events manager for Flossmoor, said by the end the students and seniors were saying how much fun they’d had. They were exchanging phone numbers and asking if the letter writing project would be repeated in 2023.
“It’s fun,” said Gayle McCormick of Homewood. “You get to meet other people. I think it’s smart to pair seniors and seniors. You get different perspectives.”
“Our H-F students shine their very brightest when they’re on a task to help someone else. And seeing people working across generations, it’s the holiday magic. Seeing all the conversations happening is the cherry on top to getting our Santa letters answered,” Wright said.
of Homewood and Celeste Carrillo of Flossmoor. (Marilyn Thomas/H-F Chronicle)
Volunteer elves take a turn helping with Santa correspondence
By Marilyn Thomas
A letter to Santa is a very special piece of correspondence because it shares a child’s utmost holiday wishes and sometimes personal secrets.
Santa doesn’t intend to let any letter go unanswered. His team of Santa helpers were able to send replies to more than 150 children through a Seniors and Seniors project Saturday, Dec. 17.
“When they write they expect an answer, so as adults and young people we’ve got to keep that going, that trust. Especially now in the climate we’re living in,” said Phyllis Tyler, a retired educator from Flossmoor. “So, this is a great thing to do. I’m excited.”
The project paired Homewood-Flossmoor High School National Honor Society students in their senior year with community members who are senior citizens. Before the letter-writing project began, the volunteers used a Q&A game to get acquainted, with questions such as What’s your favorite holiday activity? and What’s your favorite holiday memory?
For four hours, these 40 Santa elves gathered around tables at Wiley’s Grill in Flossmoor to handle a pile of letters collected at Letter to Santa boxes at Irwin Center in Homewood and the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District offices at Goldberg Park in Flossmoor. Jennah Carlson, recreation supervisor with H-F parks, said this year a second mailbox was added and the number of letters doubled to 160.
Volunteers used paper with a candy-cane striped border to send a reply. Each volunteer assured the letter writer that Santa would be on his way Dec. 24. While Santa doesn’t give up secrets on what gifts he’ll leave, he appreciated the lists of requests – everything from Legos, trucks, a butterfly pillow, a doll from Disney’s “Encanto” movie, a Harry Potter wand and toys for a pet and more. The Elf on the Shelf doll was also popular.
“I have a future business person. He wants a cash register,” Tyler said. “I think that’s great. He’ll learn to save and be a business person.”
“I think they’re being pretty polite with Santa and not asking for anything outrageous. They have like four presents each,” said H-F senior Tate Bowers of Chicago Heights.
Many letters had “I love you” messages to Santa, and several promised to leave Santa cookies and carrots for the reindeer.
And of course, Santa wants to know if the letter writer has been naughty or nice this year.
Senior volunteer Susan Gowen of Olympia Fields said her letter writer said she pays attention at school, “and she fights with her brother a little bit. Who doesn’t fight with a sibling?” Gowen wondered.
The letter writing project was a team effort for the H-F Park District with the villages of Homewood and Flossmoor. Stephanie Wright, events manager for Flossmoor, said by the end the students and seniors were saying how much fun they’d had. They were exchanging phone numbers and asking if the letter writing project would be repeated in 2023.
“It’s fun,” said Gayle McCormick of Homewood. “You get to meet other people. I think it’s smart to pair seniors and seniors. You get different perspectives.”
“Our H-F students shine their very brightest when they’re on a task to help someone else. And seeing people working across generations, it’s the holiday magic. Seeing all the conversations happening is the cherry on top to getting our Santa letters answered,” Wright said.