|
Report on Santa's Workshop 2008
The Dorothy Day Santa Workshop, 2008, was by all accounts our smoothest
year
and greatest turnout by far ever. The workshop was Jammed With Toys.
In
the end we just about cleaned the place out, with approximately 500
children
receiving the best toys they could ever expect. In addition to more
than 60
bicycles, more than 50 personal DVD players, 80 bicycle helmets, a complete
X Box
System, and literally thousands of beautifully thought out toys, games
and
puzzles, probably at least 1,000 stuffed animals, there were probably
more
than 100 volunteers (at least 60 on-site) who helped out with every
phase of
the project.
Beginning in September, the toy collections began, the
various organizations
started getting the word out that we'd need toys for
the needy. Then the
collections began and there were many newcomers who
joined in making this
the best ever.
Setting up the workshop took many
hands. If we were to try to name
everyone, we'd miss some. Even this email
only begins to touch on the many
individuals and organizations who made it
happen. The author of this email
was not even available during the first two
weeks of December because he was
officiating his daughter's wedding in Washington, DC. One
particular
organization took a tremendous lead in this, and since they are
not apt to
toot their own horn, I'll just give a hint at who it was - the
hint is "71".
One woman in particular was critical to this even being held.
She would not
want to toot her own horn, but I'll give her first name (Mary).
And she's a
critical member of "71"
Work began in earnest in
September with many organizations beginning their
toy drives. Then there was
the setting up of the workshop, collecting toys,
setting up the workshop,
organizing the toys, getting everything just right
for December
20.
And then, on December 19th we had that huge snow storm.
And
so in earnest, some people came out early even before dawn and
started
shoveling - and shoveling - and shoveling. And they weren't even
asked.
They just did it. And it was miserably cold that day.
And then
the staging of 60 bicycles which had been donated had to occur.
And then
the staging of 300 women's coats which had been donated had
to
occur.
And December 20th was a cold cold day.
Yet the
line to enter the workshop began around 7
am (and Santa didn't
arrive till 11:30). Anyone
who was in the line was definitely needy (who in
their right mind would be
willing to wait for four hours or more in the
frigid weather just so their
children could get some toys, no matter how
great the toys
were!!!)
Then the fun began -
decorating the outside, passing out
hot chocolate and cookies,
replenishing
the front end of the workshop, keeping everything tidy and
really special
for each family, making sure that everybody’s needs were met,
fitting the
children to the bicycles, fitting their helmets.
Many
people had waited in line beginning before 7 am. Santa arrived at
11:30 am. So
that means some people waited a minimum of 4 ½ hours in the
freezing cold to
get the opportunity for great presents for their kids.
Very little jossling,
lots of Christmas caroling and a good spirit. Every
kid from the first to
the approximately 500th kid got great toys, - beyond
anything their parents
or families would conceivably be able to afford.
We had a lot of
concerns and said lots of prayers beforehand about how to
handle the
bicycles, how to handle the DVD players, how to handle all the
big toys -
like Remote Control Cars, computer games, big trucks and big
cars, but it
worked perfectly. Just about the last person in line received
the last of
the bicycles, which was around 5 pm. Santa was
wiped out
The entire place was brimming with toys to the overflowing,
and even during
the workshop we received several large shipments.
We
basically had enough toys for one large toy, one small toy, a game,
puzzle,
book and stuffed animal for each child.
No one was left without a major
stash.
One woman showed up pregnant, with her seven children and her
mother. When
she saw the long line, she was ready to leave. I told her it
was worth it
to stay. She said her doctor had confined her to bed rest, so
she was
getting very worried. I said, don’t worry, we have a bed for you,
and we
brought her and her family over to the shelter and gave her a bed
until it
was her turn.
The shelter turned out to be a great place,
with Joe in charge of a crew who
were in charge of making hot chocolate and
passing it out along with
cookies. The shelter also made a nice place for
those who got too cold in
line to get warmed up. At one time we probably had
25-30 people taking a
break from the cold. This worked out great because we
had passed out
numbers to those in line, so people couldn’t cut in,and if
there was going
to be a long wait, they had an idea of when to get back in.
And of course the bathrooms were in full service and kept clean by the
team
in the shelter.
Our Police Officer, Officer Cole was superb,
directing traffic and keeping
things really smooth.
It was terrific
that people were so generous - many of volunteer students
begged for the
toys. I had more than one student ask if they could take a
DVD player - or a
bike - or another big toy like a microscope, a telescope,
a big truck - a
game - a puzzle - I said - no, they're for the poorest kids.
When I
brought one of my grandchildren over to help set up, he innocently
asked for
one of the items (he's six years old and came in from California).
I said, sorry, Alex, these toys are
for the poor children. The next time we
went over to help set up, he asked
again for one of the toys. I said I'm
sorry Alex, these are for the poor
kids. But he had wised up and had a
ready response - He said "Grandpa, can I
be poor today?"
By the way, there was no room in the Workshop for the
bicycles; they were
staged along one of the driveways of one of the
neighbors. Several scouts
and leaders spent the entire morning and afternoon
in the bitter cold,
making sure that everyone
And we had more than 300
women’s coats which all went. Plus more than 100
purses.
And there’s
a hundred other stories I out there to be told, but the most
gratifying thing
for me was to see such a community based effort in making
this a memorable
occasion. Children from the fourth grade on through high
school and college
students and adults from all over our community working
to make this a
memorable day for the less fortunate.
God's peace to all.
Deacon
Mike Oles
|
