Merry Christmas

For over 50 years I have been doing “Santa” every holiday season. It has truly become a part of my life from just after “turkey-day” until Christmas Day itself. I have regular stops on my schedule ( just like the “real guy”), and have been a “santa-on-call” filling in where needed.

Due to the Covid situation, this has not been a regular winter/holiday season for me! To be honest, I miss donning my Santa suit and visiting the kids and families that I do. In many cases, my visit may be the shining light of their holiday season…period!

This season, creativity has played a part in my gigs, just as it has in the theater world that I cover on both my website and radio show.

For example, I will not be able to be on the stage with my family at American Blues Theater as they do their annual “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago”, BUT if you join their ZOOM production on Christmas Eve, come early so you can see me. Yes, I will be there!

I have been working with other groups when I can and this year, we had to become creative in delivering joy to the folks at  The Primo Center on the South Side. This organization named for it’s founder, Bishop Quintin Primo Junior and concerned citizens established this organization to create opportunities for families in order to assist them in overcoming poverty.

Poverty still exists and due to the current situation, even more so. Enter a group of concerned North Shore residents who over the years have witnessed the good that can be done, and took on a mission. To bring hope and happiness to women and children in the Englewood neighborhood. Gifts for each child and a gift card per family. Oh, yes. Santa and lunch.

The Covid situation made this hard, but as this group wanted to honor one of their founders, Paul Kaufmann, who recently passed away, they came up with a great idea- Have Santa on a horse driven carriage and do a parade!

The families then could come to the carriage, meet Santa and pet the horse, get their gifts and take their newly found hope and smile back inside. It was effective beyond the expectations of this organization of

“do-gooders”. Many of these families had never seen a horse up close- what a day!

A special thanks to Noble Horse for their part in making this day very special.