By Anastasia Gruper

Betty Trummel and I get to pose with some very important people.

Children walked with their arms wrapped around books to donate as they entered Good Shepherd Hospital to see Santa. Throughout the night, they were engaged in various activities.  While some sat to tell Santa and Mrs. Claus what they wanted for Christmas, others created reindeer heads to carry home their “reindeer food.”  Still others gobbled up cookies and hot chocolate. When the fireman sat to read Twas the Night Before Christmas, the children all gathered excitedly on the carpet.  And when Santa started the caroling, everyone joined in.  This all was possible because the elves had planned and organized it all so well.

Through the hum of excitement, children stopped to inquire about literacy both locally and globally.  As they signed their names with hearts on book plates or purchased backpacks, they asked about kids in Africa. Some sat to watch and ask questions about the images of the children reading and writing.

My son, Michael, gets to meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

As we packed up to leave, my five year old son turned to me and said, “It looks like the kids in Africa will be getting a lot of gifts for Christmas.”  I smiled back at him and said, “Yes, thanks to so many who donated.”