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Do you have a little Santa Claus in you?
Published Sunday, November 25, 2007
A child’s letter published in a newspaper asked a simple question, but started something that became a Christmas season legend.
The letter’s author, 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, wrote the following lines to New York’s “The Sun” newspaper:
“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
“Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’
“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
Veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church’s response to Virginia’s letter is legendary.
Church’s words, written in 1897 still stir childhood wonder in all of us.
Hundreds of newspapers — including The Natchez Democrat — republish Church’s wisdom each year.
“Virginia, your little friends are wrong. … Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”
Perhaps a sense of wonder sparked by Church’s words helped motivate former Democrat publisher James Lambert a few years later when he founded what eventually became the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund.
Specific accounts differ on exactly when Lambert founded it. But what’s certain is that his aim was to share the spirit of Christmas with less fortunate children in the area.
Mr. Lambert died a few years after he formed the fund, but his family and their friends have carried on his giving spirit.
Through the years, literally thousands of Natchez area children have been blessed by special Christmas gifts provided for by the volunteers of the fund.
Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus.
The Children’s Christmas Tree Fund has, through the years, become partners with two other non-profits — Catholic Charities and the Santa Claus Committee.
Catholic Charities helps determine the children with the largest need and handles the registration process.
The Santa Claus Committee provides funding and also provides a series of stand-in Santas to help distribute the toys on Christmas Eve since the real Santa is at the North Pole getting the sleigh tuned up for global travel.
And the Children’s Christmas Tree Fund serves as the funding agency, working to raise funds, purchasing all the gifts and packing up all the toys prior to distribution.
Lambert’s dream has certainly made some children’s Christmases a little brighter.
Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
But the key to the whole event, however, is you. Buying toys for approximately 300 children isn’t cheap, or easy.
The biggest need the group generally needs is funds. The number of children served is limited by the amount of funds they receive.
Wouldn’t it be nice if money weren’t the limiter there?
To that end, The Natchez Democrat aims to help the group out a bit and we challenge other area businesses to do the same.
This is an easy challenge. We’re not asking for the moon.
Imagine if area businesses donated just $5 for each of their employees.
We know that your businesses get requests for all kinds of charitable donations each year, but what a more wondrous way to brighten a child’s day.
If you’re not a business, and you don’t normally give to the fund, try just $5. It’s the cost of a few soft drinks.
Donating is simple; just mail your gift to:
Christmas Tree Fund, P.O. Box 1082, Natchez, MS 39121
Or drop them by our office at 503 N. Canal St.
You can be assured your donation — no matter the size — will help brighten a young person’s Christmas.
Do you have a little Santa Claus in you? Somewhere the next Virginia Hanlon hopes you do.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on November 25, 2007 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It takes so little to brighten a childs face when they see the toy they would not get if you did not contribute. The fund does need help each year to put that beautiful little gleam in a child's eyes on Christmas morning. Wishing you and all your loved ones a HAPPY HOLIDAY.
Posted by lnl4evah (anonymous) on November 25, 2007 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just to see them smile.....
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on November 26, 2007 at 4:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Kevin for this story and information.'
I trust Catholic Charities completely so I will be donating.
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on November 26, 2007 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great article... As always the thoughts of "truly" needy children brings a tear to my eye...We don't have much, but I teach my children of those who have even less. We do the shoeboxes and the gifts for angels every year.
Posted by ChooseOrLose (anonymous) on November 26, 2007 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Children's Christmas Tree Fund sounds like a great organization. Toys 4 Tots is a good one too, but it sounds like The Children's Christmas Tree fund is much better, because the children will actually get things that they want for Christmas, as opposed to a toy for their age range.
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on November 26, 2007 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Recently Catholic Charities helped out a family I know.
They took the money to the landlord themselves so I know they are very careful and honest.
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on November 27, 2007 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MR.COOPER???LET ME TELL YOU A STORY SIR.AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME 2 YEARS AGO,I WAS LAID OFF MY JOB,IT WAS AROUND SEPT I THINK.I DIDNT FIND WORK TILL JANUARY OF THE NEXT YEAR.I WAS REACHING OUT FOR HELP TO PAY BILLS.HELP TO PROVIDE CHRISTMAS FOR MY CHILDREN.ONLY ONE GROUP HELPED ME AND IT WASNT MUCH,BUT IT DID HELP.>CATHOLIC CHARITIES CAME TO MY RESCUE.BUT MY MORTGAGE AND BILLS FOR THREE MONTHS WAS STILL DUE AND I WAS IN THREAT OF BEING THROWN IN THE STREET.NO-ONE WOULD HELP ME.ITS VERY SAD.MY IRS REFUND CHECK THAT CAME IN JAN WAS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME.THAT AND THE GRACE OF GOD.I EVEN EMAILED THE DEMOCRAT ASKING FOR HELP AND GOT NO RESPONSE.YOU SHOULDNT HELP PEOPLE ONLY AROUND CHRISTMAS.PEOPLE NEED HELP EVERYDAY IN NATCHEZ AND THEY ARE IGNORED.THERES SO MANY RICH PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE MUCH TO GIVE,BUT GIVE NOTHING.ITS PATHETIC!CHRISTMAS WONT COME FOR SOME OF THE FAMILYS HERE.MOST PEOPLE OF LESS FORTUNATE WOULD BE HAPPY IF THERE KIDS JUST HAD SOMETHING TO EAT ON CHRISTMAS AND THE OTHER 364 DAYS OF THE YEAR.PRINT THAT IN YOUR PAPER MR.COOPER.TY
Posted by sarabug (anonymous) on November 27, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is wrong with you Supertrucker?? You really are ignorant. What kind of help did you ask for from the Natchez Democrat? They are a newspaper not a charity. You always talk about the rich people of Natchez, have you ever thought that maybe they have a good education and have worked very hard for what they have? People like you are the ones that sit around waiting for a handout instead of getting out there and finding another job. I am not one of the richer people of Natchez in fact I live paycheck to paycheck, not only to have half of my earnings taken by the government so we can support people like you. UUUUGGGHHH!!!
Posted by firered (anonymous) on November 27, 2007 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually sarabug I see nothing wrong with what supertrucker said. All he did was speak the truth, can you not handle it? There are plenty of families who do need help year round who bust their butts working to make ends meet but sometimes just can't make it. Now go find some of those families and ask them how much help they have received when they were in dire need of it. I rarely ever agree with supertrucker but here lately he has shown compassion and a little bit of human came out in him. No the democrat is not a charity but they know where charities are and could help if they wanted to I don't think it was too bad of an idea to contact them when you are at your wits end and don't know where else to turn. And about those rich people who worked hard for what they got.. have you forgotten those who never worked a day in their lives for the money that they have? I'm not by any means downing rich people just reminding you that not all worked to get that way.
Posted by sarabug (anonymous) on November 27, 2007 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blah, blah, blah. Sure I can handle the truth firered, but are you saying the "rich people" need to give handouts? Just a suggestion you can turn to the yellowpages under charities to get a listing instead of waiting around for a reply from an email that may not have ever been received or make a phone call to the Democrat wouldn't be a bad idea either. Yes I know about the people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouths but you can't get so defensive over them it's not their fault they were fortunate enough to have been brought up in a family with no financial worries. I am one of those familes who bust their butts to pay my car, utilites and my house. Just my opinion on the opinion page is that some of these people that need help are too lazy to get up take a cab or bus and look for a job. Even if it is McDonald's. However I do understand that their are those who can not work for whatever reason that may be and I do agree that people that unfortunate do need help. Plus what unfortunate person can afford a computer to email??
Posted by firered (anonymous) on November 27, 2007 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who's to say that he used his own computer? There are computers at the public library and you know people have neighbors. No I'm not saying that "rich" people need to give handouts. But charities won't work if people won't donate.
And supertrucker seems to have made it just fine so obviously he did get a job when he was able to (in jan. I do believe he said). I just didn't think it was right of you to jump on him for being in a financial bind and getting himself out of it. And to group him with people who just sit on their lazy butts and not try to get a job...
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on November 28, 2007 at 4:04 a.m.
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