By JUDD WEIL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Despite circumstances that led to an initial cancellation, suddenly Hutchinson Secret Santa is back on and they need help from the Hutchinson community.
For the spirit of the holiday, the anonymity of the secret Santa organizers will be maintained and they will be referred to as Santa One and Santa Two.
“It was cancelled because the original Santa is having a life move,” Santa Two said. “They're physically moving and they didn't have anyone to carry on the tradition right.”
According to Santa Two, the tradition of Hutchinson Secret Santa has been ongoing for over 10 years.
How Hutchinson Secret Santa usually works is the Christmas list would open the first part of December and that is when families would sign up.
After the list is closed, the gifts are gathered through donations.
Then the volunteers of Hutchinson Secret Santa, set up a “little factory” of sorts and put together the gifts and baskets and get them all sent out for delivery.
"Hutchinson Secret Santa is a completely volunteer-based community operation. They make us get volunteer wrappers, we get volunteer drivers, and the gifts are delivered,” said Santa Two.
However, with the impromptu nature of this year’s event, things are a little different.
“Well, this year, it's kind of a hurricane rush to get through it,” Santa Two said. “The process normally would go there would be drop off areas for donations. Our volunteers would pick up those, bring them to the place where we are going to store, and then wrap the presents.”
“We have different sheets with all the family names and their addresses, and those sheets kind of move with them throughout the process, so when we pick the gifts out for the children the sheet goes with it," Santa Two said.
Then on the delivery day, the list also goes to the delivery drivers, so that all of the presents are kept track of and can be checked off as they are delivered.
“This is usually for people that were unable to sign up for the Salvation Army,” Santa Two said. “This is for lower income families to help out or people that are struggling. This is not just a generic ‘hey everyone signs up.’”
Santa Two added, “I think that's been the premise for a very long time, was to help people that were just really needing help.”
For Santa Two, this is about more than keeping the tradition of Hutchinson Secret Santa alive.
“My sister passed away last week, and I have been completely crushed by it,” Santa Two said. “My friend Santa Nuimber One, contacted me and said, ‘you know, this might cheer you up, no one's taking over the Secret Santa. I spoke to the Secret Santa and she said she'd be more than thrilled for someone to take over,’ and we decided then and there, alright let's do this, this is what we're going to do.”
“One of my sisters favorite time of year was Christmas, so this is just you know the pinnacle of what I can do, and we've always loved Santa Number One, and I have always loved helping in the past.”
Santa One was very fervent that Hutchinson Secret Santa did not end.
The previous Secret Santa, left Santa One and Two the tools they would need to continue their operation.
“We plan on keeping the name the same,” Santa Two said. “The previous Santa gifted us the entire Facebook page and pretty much everything she has. All the information, she gifted all of that to us to try to help us out with it.”
Right now, Hutchinson Secret Santa needs help.
“We have reached out to dental offices to get hygiene donations to toss in with the gifts, but we need actual gift donations. I know it's so last minute and several people have already donated to other things thinking the Santa thing wasn't going to happen, I completely understand that,” Santa Two said. “It's just we definitely need help with gifts, so we are not accepting any cash donations because we do not have our 501(c)3 set up, and we won't have that going until probably the beginning of the year.”
There are two drop-off locations for gifts. One is at The Strand, a local salon, located at 2520 N. Main St. The other is located at a local residence, at 1006 N. Elm St. The person taking those donations is no-contact, stated Santa Two.
“She just wants the presents dropped off, she'll call us in the evening, and we'll come pick it up,” Santa Two said.
Hutchinson Secret Santa will begin their deliveries on Christmas Eve.
“I know the deliveries were done on Dec. 23, but because of everything being so short notice we are going to be delivering probably starting at 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve,” Santa Two said.
Along with the urgently-needed gift donations, Hutchinson Secret Santa is will also appreciate volunteer drivers to deliver the gifts.
“We would love some volunteer drivers. We actually have 124 kids this year.” Santa Two said, “There's usually 800-plus children on these lists, we had to try to say ‘okay this is what we can pull off.’”
Volunteers can message both of Hutchinson Secret Santa Facebook pages, which are linked together.
Hutchinson Secret Santa is accepting new and gently-used toys.
In the future, while some things will remain the same, Hutchinson Secret Santa, has plans to grow past the holiday season as they continue their mission to serve children.
“In the future this isn't going to be just a pop-up event,” Santa Two said. “We plan on kind of changing the face of this and getting more community involved.”
If you have questions, you can call Santa Two at (620) 664-0177.
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