My Spirit was renewed by these kids.

Are you looking for some Christmas Spirit?

Well ladies, it’s been a while since we got together during that brutal winter snow storm when you ventured out onto the icy, blowing, chilly winter night. If you recall, it was our first real dump of snow and winter storm of 2011. And it was a dousie.

All of us with filled Christmas Shoeboxes

That morning, I remember thinking that “well it’s a fitting night to learn some winter driving tips” and as the day went on it got worse and worse and I was concerned and wouldn’t have blamed you if you had decided not to come. To my absolute surprise, we had more people show up than expected. We had a great time, learned some tips and tricks for handling the roads to get home and how to be better prepared this winter from the team at Lexus of Edmonton.

Part of the evening that really touched my heart then… and even more so now was filling the Christmas Shoe Boxes for Debra Kasowski who had a dream of helping kids right here in Edmonton get a gift this Christmas that might otherwise not have received anything.

Well I got the chance to tag along with Debra and her husband Steven (aka…Santa), on not one school visit but two this past week. And I want to share my experience with you as I want YOU to know what JOY you brought to these kids by heading out to join us that cold winter night on Thursday, November 17.

Elves at St. Gerard School

The first school that I visited was St. Gerard Elementary School last Wednesday. I struggled the night before as to whether I should take my 4 year old daughter with me or not.  Being 4 and very excited for Christmas and Santa this year I was concerned about her wanting to spend time with Santa and asking for a gift or why she wouldn’t get a gift that day. So I started off reminding her of all the items we had in the house that filled our dining room. Items that you used to fill your Christmas shoe boxes. I also let her know that we would-be helping serve breakfast to the kids and then Santa would hand out the gift boxes to the kids. She said, “I understand mom, I’ll be okay.”

So off we went.

When we arrived, we meet many volunteers and even some kids, but she was definitely the youngest. We all got organized and cut up fruit, while others made pancakes donated by Frank Santiago from Jitterbee Shakable Pancakes Mix. We arranged and covered the gift boxes according to the grades, so when the kids entered the GYM they would not see or have any idea of what was to come for them

Christmas Shoebox Gifts waiting for kids

We organized all the food and drinks and off we went to the pre-kindergarten classroom which is what my daughter is in, to feed them. It was a PJ day for the entire school, so they were in good spirits when we entered. Together they all said good morning to the new visitors, Sarabella handed out the forks and napkins to each of the 36 kids.

We got everything served, poured on the syrup, cut up the pancakes and chatted to the kids. Then I noticed a little boy sitting under the ‘Fort’ in the classroom. I talked to the teacher and she told me that he is scared of strangers and he was more comfortable hiding. So Sarabella was worried he would go hungry, she asked if we could make a plate up for him and she would take it to him.  She went over with the plate of pancakes and offered it to him and he told her to “Go Away”, which made my heart break for her. She put the plate down beside him and said “I will leave it right here for you. When you decide you’re hungry you can get it yourself.” She put the plate down and as she walked away he picked up the plate. She looked back at him and said “I knew you were hungry, Merry Christmas.”

Pancakes ready to roll to Room 12

36 kids ate more pancakes, fruit and sausages than I have ever seen little 4 and 5 year olds’ eat at one time.

We returned to the gym and the entire Elf volunteer group lined up in front of the covered gifts to hide them while the classes streamed in grade by grade, one excited kid after another.

They sat there, beside their friends and the room got louder and louder.

The Elf’s started to sing a few Christmas songs to get the kids focused and then Santa and Mrs Claus entered the room. At that moment the air was filled with gasps of joy, their eyes so wide, their mouths open as wide as could be and some of them covered their hands over their mouths in amazement, some kids screamed for Santa to come hug them or just a chance to shake the big guys hand.  As I looked at the Elves, their watery eyes of happiness filled the singing with laughter and smiles. This was a great moment.

Santa took a few moments to quiet them down and then asked the kids if they had been good. Then challenged each grade to a loud ‘Ho, Ho, Ho’ contest before he surprised them with the gifts they were about to receive.

It was clear to me that every child had ants in their pants as they waited patiently for their grade to be called to line up in a row across from an Elf to receive their gift box.

After receiving their gift box the children headed back to their spot on the floor and then had to WAIT again. I watched as Sarabella would wait to get a gift box and then line up and anxiously pick a child on the other side of her to whom she would hand over the gift box. She would ask their name and tell them her name and as both their hands where on the box she would say their name and wish them a Merry Christmas. It was a very proud moment for me. The coolest thing ladies, is Sarabella got a couple boxes to hand out that had our special tags on them. Do you remember the tags? Beautiful Girl and Amazing Boy. For me that was a heartwarming moment where I knew that shoe box was packed by one of you.  It was a moment that, had you Not come that night….it would have not happened.

That child would not have been given THAT gift!!!

Kids wiggled, shook, listened, and played with their gift boxes while they waited for each child to receive their box.  That was a test of patience for the little ones who got their boxes first. Then Santa told them that on the count of three they could OPEN their gift. That was the loudest count to three I have ever heard. Sound of elastics popping and paper being ripped, followed by the shrill of excitement, the Ooh’s and WOW’s and the “oh did you see what I got?” was the moment that sent chills up my spine and a huge smile to my face.

During the opening of the gifts the Elves where encouraged to mill threw the kids, help them, talk to them, listen to their stories and ask them about the gift they had just received. When done, the kids tried to pack up their boxes, but it proved to be harder for them to get everything back in the box. They headed back to their home rooms.

Santa and the Elves gathered to share their experiences and stories from the morning.

• One story shared was that an elf noticed a little boy was not opening his gift box, when asked why he shared that “he wanted to save it to put under his tree at home.  You see my mom died two weeks ago and there will be no gifts under the tree this year as my dad now had him and his three brothers and sisters to take care of”. • Some kids said this was the best gift they had ever received;
• One said they had never received a gift before, as Santa had never been to their house.
• There was a special needs class with a young boy that struggles with autism. He waved to Santa when he came in the room, then when Santa saw him next he had pulled his pants legs up and pointed down to his NEW stripped socks, he was so proud of them. Then he made a Santa look alike with the play dough he received in his box.  He took it to Santa and pointed feverishly back and forth from the play dough to Santa showing that he made a Santa. The little boy caught up to Santa in the hallway right in front of the Christmas tree and he waved good bye, then in that instant he put his arms out to hug Santa and naturally Santa put his arms out to hug the little boy.  The boy stopped just for a moment, but Santa went forward with the hug and they hugged.  The boys’ full time teachers’ aid, was crying and smiling, she yelled out “I need a camera, someone come with a camera.”  Santa turned the little boy around to look at the cameras, all the while still hugging the boy and a picture was taken. The aid was in complete tears as she looked at the photo and said the boy has never in her four years with him had physical contact with a stranger. And look at this picture he is smiling, another thing he never does.  The aid said “I have to get this picture printed and framed as his mom doesn’t have a picture of her little boy, little own one of him hugging someone and smiling.”

Now, isn’t that a picture perfect Kodak moment worth a million tears.

That moment alone, has been the highlight story for Santa this year.

As I mentioned, I went to another school on Monday of this week. I decided that it had such a huge impact on my daughter that I needed to pull my 6 year old out of school so he could come and share the experience with us.

So with knifes, aprons, camera, new batteries and this time a bit of Kleenex I packed up the kids and my mom to join in.

The routine was familiar to me, quick meeting and run down from Steve about the day. The only thing different were no sausages as I think with so many ethnic students, the school wanted to respect the beliefs of pork or meat.  So oranges where added to the menu of Jitterebee pancakes.

This time my mom and the kids and I headed to room twelve which was the grade one Class, the same grade my son is in. There 20 students were all waiting so patiently in their seats. We said good morning and the kids started by handing out the plates and forks. The teacher saw the fruit and warned me that the kids are not big fruit eaters…

What? I thought for sure she must be mistaken.

As the morning went on I soon found out she was right on the money!  I later asked her why? She went on to say that the families are low income so knowing that, money is tight in each house. So the kids never really get to eat or try fruit, because most times it’s expensive and fruit doesn’t last as long so the families don’t buy it.

I had NEVER thought of fruit as being so expensive that our family would ever have to pass it over for other things. It really made me appreciate the fruit in my house and now I will make a point of trying very hard to eat it and not let it go bad. Anyways the breakfast went by really fast and some of those kids have 7 or 8 pancakes each and a couple glasses of milk.

Again, we headed to the gym to sing some Christmas songs and wait for the special couple to arrive. This time I was much more prepared for everything that would happen. I really took the time to watch my mom and kids faces and expressions more today. Lucas is a pretty serious kid most times and I think he really was amazed by how excited the kids where when they open the gifts and got so excited about a pencil, socks or toothbrushes, something for him that is not a gift but in his mind a given that we just have.

Beautiful Girl Christmas Shoebox

I noticed our boxes with the special Amazing Boy and Beautiful Girl on them once again. I made sure to give these boxes to my kids to hand out and as you can see in the photo, the smiles are genuine.

While watching the children open the gifts, I got to talk to one of the little girls in grade one that had one of our Beautiful Girl boxes.  As she opened the box up, I was reminded of all the items each of you so carefully packed ever so neatly. This one had a pink jewelry box, what a surprise she got when first found out the drawer opened and that purple gloves had been tucked inside; her favourite colour. Colouring books to colour in, barrettes, a stuffy animal all to herself and the huge lollipop. She said that she had never had one before and then she found a couple of the round chocolate balls tucked inside, she looked up at my daughter who she met at breakfast she said  “Sarabella would you like a chocolate?” and Sarabella said “thank you, but this gift is just for you to enjoy.”

I turned around to a little girl who asked me for a bit of help.  She said “I’m so excited I got a note, could you please read it to me.” Well again, I was touched because it was one of our Beautiful Girl tags that she turned over and pointed to the note. I reached out for it and had to catch my breath.  The handwriting on the back of that tag was that of my moms, I can pick her hand writing out from hundreds of hand writing samples, (all the chore lists she used to give me I’m sure

I started to read the Merry Christmas wish and tears rolled down my face, the little girl listened as I struggled through reading it and she said.  “Wow that is the kindest Christmas wish I have ever gotten!  Thank you for reading it to me as my reading isn’t very good yet.” Together Sarabella and I helped her put all her treasures back in the box while all the kids sang “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” to the entire group of Elves. As I went to get up, the little girl reached out to me and wished me a Merry Christmas and thanked me for my help as she then she gave me a big hug and said “this is the best day she has ever had at school.”

When all the Elves met we shared our stories again.

• One little girl said that she loved the toothbrush and since she had one she was going to give it to her mom, because her mom didn’t have one.
• One one of the grade six boys’ was asked what the best gifts in his box were and his reply shocked my mom, Axe deodorant. He was so excited to get that she didn’t even think a boy of that age would care about deodorant.
• Another little one told Mrs. Clause that she was pretty lucky to live all year with Santa and she better treat him good.

Isn’t that what we should all do all year long? Treat others with love and kindness, reach out to others who need help and watch over the kids, schools or families that don’t want to tell you they need help.

My son asked me “how do you get the spirit of Christmas and what is it?” I told him that there is one thing that is impossible to do… “What’s that?” he asked. I told him it is absolutely impossible to frown and smile at the same time.

Try it; it’s impossible, one of those strange, but true things.

I went on to say when you feel like you’re sad or not smiling; you have a choice to make. You can choose to keep frowning or you can choose to smile. When you see someone else frowning you can choose to try to make them smile or leave them frowning and walk away. If you choose to make someone smile, even if it is just by smiling back at them or by giving or doing something for them, that is when you will be giving them a gift of joy and happiness. To make someone smile is a true gift that you can give someone and that then the Spirit of Christmas will be inside of you. And that happy feeling inside that you will feel is what the Spirit of Christmas is all about.

I do want to Congratulate and Thank Debra and Steven Kasowski and each of YOUwho helped make this happen for kids in our city this Christmas.

Did you know that 1210 Shoeboxes where handed out, SIX schools where visited, 5 Breakfasts provided for kids and about 4000 pancakes where gobbled up.

Can you believe that by heading out on that COLD, STORMING, WINTER’S night; Each of You would become a part of this Miracle for these kids.

Elves waiting for kids

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me be a part and share this experience with you. I can’t wait till next year and my husband and dad will be joining us.

Kimberly Schick-Puddicombe

PS: Just so you know I would have loved to share some photos of the kids ripping the boxes open or at breakfast, but with FOIP issues, I was not allowed.