For over 50 years, on Christmas Day, I have made appearances as Santa Claus somewhere in the greater Chicago area ( last year, 2022 was THE exception as we were in Israel for our granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah). For the past several years, it has been at St. James Church on South Wabash Avenue in Chicago. When I began at Saint James, they still had the actual church ( dating back to the 1850 era), a school and a smaller chapel.
Over the years, the Church has been torn down and the school and Chapel have been brought to a new standard so that the church could still be there for the neighborhood. The people love their church and its staff and those who were members in the past, but have moved on to other areas, stayed involved in order to keep their food pantry open and to be on assistance to those who live in the area “projects”.
Chef Dave Sambor, owner of Polo Cafe in Bridgeport, brought me into the Christmas Day event at St. James. Over the years I have worked with him in getting helpers to make the day complete. My granddaughter, when she was in culinary school, was in town to assist in food preparation. On Christmas Day, we feed over 200 people a dinner that makes them feel very special on the special day.
During the year, the staff and committee members get donations of items to give to the adults and children. Toys and games as well as books line the table ( you can get a glimpse from the photo, but there are additional boxes under the table as well).
The procedure is very clean. The “guests” come from the outer area where they have been greeted , come down the stairs where they can sanitize and then enter a “holding area” where appetizers and beverages are served. They meet some of the staff and then are escorted to their table with their table-mates. Once seated, a volunteer brings them their dinner ( even though it is served around lunch, on Christmas, it is a dinner). Chef Sambor has prepared turkey, ham and beef as well as mashed potatoes, corn and mac’n cheese as well as a salad and of course buttered rolls. For desert, several pies and this year, his special crème Brule (that was delicious).
The diners dine and talk with each other as well as the volunteers. Upon completion of their meal, they make their way toward the exit where they are given a bag of goodies and then one more when they leave the building. The staff awaits them with a bag that has some food stuff, gloves, scarves and other assorted items. The kids get to stop and meet Santa ( who has been observing and speaking with them as the came in the door. Now they have that special “photo op” that every kid loves and they get to select a few presents and a bag of candy.
I look forward to Christmas Day every year and working with the wonderful folks at St. James Church. When people ask me why I have been doing Santa for all these years, I have a simple answer. Seeing the faces of the children ( young and old) and the joy that this day brings to their lives, makes me feel as if I have helped the world be a little better than the day before.
If you feel like helping, get in touch with me at albresloff@yahoo.com or Peter at pwawire@stjameswabsah.org
If you are ready to try the delicious food at Polo Inn Cafe, they are located at 3322 S. Morgan in Chicago. Phone is 773-927-7656
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