By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Halloween is still more than a week away, yet the elves at Bowling Green City Schools are gearing up for Christmas.
“Seventy-one days till Christmas,” Kisha Nichols said last week to her fellow Santa’s helpers Jen Ostrowski and Shannon Lentz.
After all, if last year was any indication, hundreds of local children are counting on these elves to deliver holiday joy to their homes.
Tis the season for members of the Dear Santa Society at Bowling Green City Schools to prepare for their weighty role in the community. So during last week’s Board of Education meeting, the coordinators made their annual pitch to enlist more elves for the cause.
Last year, the local Dear Santa Society adopted 82 local families with 211 children over the holidays. In addition to providing packages under the tree, the organization gave families 95 hams, 40 bicycles, 121 pairs of shoes, and 91 coats.
The children served included 46 aged 4 years and younger, 85 aged 5-9, 57 aged 10-14, and 23 aged 15-18.
Nichols said this year she challenged the high school staff to identify more older students in need.
“We are one of the few organizations that will help ages 12 and older,” she said.
Every year there are more families to feed and presents to put under trees.
Two years ago, 70 families in the school district made it on Dear Santa’s list, compared to 56 families the previous year and 39 the year prior to that.
The Dear Santa Society operates purely on volunteer labor and community generosity. Information is collected on children’s wishlists and clothing sizes. Every year, the Santa surrogates get hand-written letters from little ones asking for clothes, shoes, baby dolls and bikes.
“We’re very appreciative of all the support,” Nichols said.
Volunteers spend countless hours shopping to make dreams come true.
“We’re always looking for people to do the shopping,” Lentz said.
The goal is to get some of the shoppers going by Black Friday. The shopping begins in earnest after Thanksgiving, primarily by teachers and other school staff, and some local churches. Next a mass wrapping event is held. Then Santa’s elves – who look suspiciously like school employees – deliver them to the homes.
“This is one of my favorite things to do in this district,” school board member Tracy Hovest said.
This year, the wrapping night is set for Dec. 17, and the delivery day is planned for Dec. 20.
Several fundraisers are scheduled in Bowling Green to raise money for the program. Fundraisers at local food establishments include:
- SamB’s Restaurant, Tuesday, Oct. 28.
- The Falcon Mart, Friday, Oct. 31.
- Beckett’s Burger Bar, Tuesday, Nov. 4.
- The Curry Lounge, Friday, Nov. 7.
- Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, Friday, Nov. 14.
- Call of the Canyon, Wednesday, Nov. 19.
The application deadline is Nov. 17. Those in need of assistance – or those who know a family who could use help – can contact the Dear Santa Society by email at dearsantabg@gmail.com, or send by postal mail to The Dear Santa Society, P.O. Box 513, Bowling Green, OH 43402.
Those wishing to donate may mail checks to the above address, or use Venmo: Dear-Santa, or PayPal: donate@dearsantasociety.org – and note the BG Chapter in the donation.
The Dear Santa Society was started 17 years ago in Bowling Green by Jim and Dee Szalejko. When the couple moved from the area, Nichols and Ostrowski took charge, with Lentz joining them this year.
