What is being called a “true Christmas miracle” took place in Wallaceburg over the weekend.
The local radio station and a team volunteers embarked on the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ event, organized by the Knights of Pythias on Saturday morning. After writing down what the children told Santa they wanted for Christmas, the crew went out and purchased every single item.
The children, parents and the K of P were all caught off guard and surprised when the children’s wishes came true later that morning at Canadian Tire.
“Totally blown away,” said Greg Hetherington, owner and general manager of 99.1 CKXS in Wallaceburg, who organized this ultimate ‘Secret Santa.’
“I think we thought it had the potential to be a cool event, but never imagined that it was going to be as successful, as amazing, as touching as it turned out to be. It was truly magical. I’m still blown away by the whole thing.”
Making Christmas wishes come true
The K of P didn’t have a clue about the ‘Secret Santa’ event, Hetherington said.
“We showed up pretending we were getting information from all of the families that were asking for things from Santa, we wrote them all down,” Hetherington told the Sydenham Current.
“We talked to people afterwards to say why we were so detailed about writing stuff down about what they wanted… because Canadian Tire was doing an information session across Canada to make sure they stocked their shelves with the right toys this holiday season. So we’re keeping track for Canadian Tire so they have this information afterwards.”
To thank the people for the information, Hetherington said they invited all the ‘Breakfast with Santa’ participants to Canadian Tire to receive a gift bag.
“So when they all left the breakfast, they closed the door to the Knights of Pythias hall and I pulled the guys aside and said, ‘I got to tell you guys something. We’re keeping track of all these toys because everything that the kids asked for at your breakfast today, we’re getting them.’ The guys were over the moon. Some of them broke down into tears. That reaction, that this happened at their event without them knowing about it, they were just blown away. They all started applauding. That was a really cool moment.”
Hetherington said the magic continued over at Canadian Tire later Saturday morning.
“People thought they were going to go there to get a $5 or $10 gift bag from Canadian Tire, that is what they all thought,” he said.
“There is Santa waiting for them with all these gifts wrapped up, and you can kind of see the anticipation building up. ‘What is happening here?’. The first child that walked up and opened up his gift, he had asked for an iPad and he got an iPad. The parents all kind of looked at each other like ‘Oh my God.’ That’s what he asked for for Christmas and then the next child in line who wanted an iPhone, they got that, and the next child in line asked for this hard to find Superman (toy) that you can’t get anywhere, it’s there. Everything that they asked for, was there. That reaction, the look, the parents, the kids, it was just unbelievable.”
Businesses step up
Max and Kathy Fantuz, Peter Marshall from Canadian Tire, Rob Myers from RM (Sothebys Auctions), Steve Baker and Union Gas, Rick Depooter from Lambton Conveyor, the local Tim Hortons stores in Chatham-Kent, Nick Cadotte from Co-Operators and 99.1, all donated to the ‘Secret Santa’ event.
In total, $14,000 was raised before the event.
“We had to be ready for anything,” Hetherington said.
“We were even ready for a horse. If a little girl asked us for a pony, we had T.J Stables lined up to deliver a horse to Canadian Tire on Saturday morning.”
A total of 40 gifts were given out and 25 volunteers stepped up to make the day happen, Hetherington said.
Emotional experience for everyone
Heather Blake, whose 22-year-old son Duke is hearing impaired, said the whole event was an emotional and joyful experience.
“I am still tearing up today,” she told the Sydenham Current.
“I have never seen anything like that in my life… it was like we were in a Christmas movie. Seeing adults crying and kids screaming and smiling.”
Her son ended up getting lights for his truck that he wanted and he was also able to communicate with Santa at Canadian Tire through sign language.
“All the years when he was little, he could never talk to Santa,” she said.
“But (on Saturday) Santa signed to him. Duke even said that maybe that’s the real Santa. A 22-year-old that stopped believing in Santa years ago.”
Heather Blake said she chatted with one family in the parking lot of Canadian Tire, who were also overcome with emotion.
“Mom was in tears because she couldn’t afford the big presents this year and her child got what he wanted,” she said.
“It shocked a lot of people and in such a gloomy world, so many people needed this. Wallaceburg is the best town. It’s hard to even put words to it… except a Christmas miracle with the real Santa.”
Heather’s husband Jerry Blake, who is chancellor in commander for the Knights of Pythias and the co-chair of the Santa Claus parade, told the Sydenham Current he couldn’t talk about the ‘Secret Santa’ event without tearing up.
“Everyone was overwhelmed,” he said.
“I don’t think there was a dry eye. We were in shock that something so amazing was happening. It was just incredible to see so many happy children and emotional parents outside of Canadian Tire, that didn’t know how they were going to be able to afford the gifts that children just received.”
He added: “It’s nothing short of a miracle, a true Christmas miracle in our little town, who would have thought. All the people that pulled that off are priceless, and from what I hear on the street and read on Facebook, they have truly restored the Christmas spirit in a lot of doubtful people.”
Video made from the event
Here are some more photos from the event:
The most amazing thing I have seen .. makes me very proud to have been born and raised in such a warm and caring community