It’s hard for some children to believe in Santa Claus when they wake up Christmas morning and find that he hasn’t stopped at their house with any gifts. That’s why the Secret Santa program in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel is so special. Volunteers make sure Christmas is special for families in need, and both the volunteers and the families can remain anonymous.
    With heating oil prices skyrocketing and a sluggish economy, making Christmas enjoyable for youngsters can be difficult for many families simply struggling to make ends meet. Thanks to the Secret Santa program, children don’t have to wake up on Christmas morning empty-handed, and parents don’t have to explain to their children why there won’t be any gifts this year.
    Even though gifts aren’t the reason to celebrate Christmas, the gesture of giving tends to make both the giver and the receiver warm and fuzzy inside. There’s nothing better than seeing someone’s face light up on Christmas morning as they tear into a package and discover a new treasure.
    However, children aren’t the only ones who need to feel the joy of Christmas, that’s why the Elder Elves program spearheaded by the Senior Center in Kennebunk’s Lower Village works overtime to make sure senior citizens have a happy holiday as well. Many seniors are alone on the holidays and often don’t have family and friends to celebrate with.
    The Elder Elves prepare gift baskets to make sure these people have something to smile about Christmas morning. We applaud both of these programs for going out of their way to make the holidays special for complete strangers. This after is what the spirit of the holiday season is all about.
    So, during the hustle and bustle of shopping and decorating this December, stop and be thankful for all that you have, and remember that others are going without, then pick up the phone and call your local soup kitchen and food pantries and find out how you can help someone else have a happy holiday.