Secret Santa gets helper
Michelle Schaub organizing Christmas initiative for first time
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, December 5, 2016
HAY RIVER
Secret Santa – the annual initiative to ensure needy families in Hay River have Christmas gifts and a seasonal meal – is in new hands this year.
Michelle Schaub is the new organizer, and she has already launched the collection effort.
"It's very important for the community because it helps out a lot of families in Hay River who would like to have a nice family dinner and some presents under the tree that can't really afford it because times are tough," she said.
"It's nice that they can put their names down and we can help them out as a community."
Last year, Secret Santa was run by the Royal Canadian Legion and before that for more than 20 years by Edna Dow, who founded the initiative in Hay River in the 1990s.
Schaub said she became the new organizer after asking the RCMP if they needed any help with their annual Toy Drive with Hay River's other emergency services.
Instead, she was asked if she would be interested in looking after Secret Santa.
In fact, Schaub had already thought about it but wasn't sure it was still necessary because of the Toy Drive.
"But I guess the main idea with the Toy Drive was that they just wanted to do the Toy Drive once a year and then donate the items to Secret Santa," she said.
"That was their plan right from the beginning."
Schaub said everything worked out because the RCMP was looking for help in distributing the toys they collected and she was looking for a reason to help with Secret Santa.
The RCMP's Toy Drive was set for Dec. 3.
Appropriate ages
Schaub will ensure the gifts collected then and through Secret Santa are wrapped for appropriate ages and go to families in need.
Secret Santa collection boxes have already been placed at eight businesses.
New, unwrapped gifts will be collected until Dec. 15.
"And then we'll be doing deliveries to families on Dec. 23," said Schaub.
She is currently looking for volunteers to help her with Secret Santa this year, especially with collecting the toys and wrapping them.
"But mostly just wrapping because the deliveries will be done with a few people from Secret Santa that have volunteered, but also the RCMP and the emergency services will be delivering with us, as well," she said.
Schaub is confident there will be help, noting already a few people have called about volunteering.
"And of course you always rope in your family and your friends," she said with a laugh.
Plus, she said people have already made donations into the collection boxes placed around town.
"I believe that with the help from the community that anything can be done," she said.
Donations can also be made to Secret Santa at the Town of Hay River's Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 10.
A note on the Secret Santa collection boxes advises people that gifts are needed for ages zero to 99.
It's not just for children, Schaub said. "It's for everybody."
Along with gifts, Secret Santa provides hampers – consisting of a turkey, stuffing, carrots and potatoes – so families can also enjoy a Christmas dinner.
Secret Santa receives help from social assistance agencies and schools to determine which families would welcome the help.
Grew up in Hay River
Schaub, who is the executive assistant for the Arctic Winter Games and also the manager of Riverview Cineplex, said she grew up in Hay River and loves the community and its people.
And she likes to give back to the community which this year will mean helping people have a happy Christmas.
Mayor Brad Mapes is pleased to see Secret Santa continuing on in Hay River.
It's a great initiative, said the mayor. "There are a lot of kids that are in spots where there are not the opportunities for them to celebrate Christmas as much as some other people but our community is a giving community."
