Published on December 5th, 2014 | by Thomas Ritchie
Santa’s helpers gather to wrap gifts for a cause
The Sioux City Ford Lincoln car dealership looked like a crazy band of elves had moved in to wrap gifts.
Games and Frozen dolls, stuffed toys and big trucks sat stacked in rows as local volunteers took over the showroom Tuesday night as part of the Lucky Leprechauns for Kids non-profit.
The lead elf was organization director Kelly Nashleanas, who was ecstatic to have dozens of Santa’s helpers wrapping, stuffing and packaging gifts for delivery to needy children in Sioux City.
“It’s so great to have so much help,” Nashleanas said as she looked around the room, almost in awe of the achievement. She said the initiative has helped more than 5,000 families in eight years.
Around her, colorful Christmas wrapping paper was strewn across desks, the floor and on counters. Teens and seniors, young people and moms all cut, taped and wrapped hundreds of gifts. And each time a pile of gifts was depleted, more gifts would appear.
“This is a great turnout for a great cause,” said Sam Burrish with Sioux City Ford Lincoln. “This is a bigger crowd than we expected, and we couldn’t be happier to be a partner in this important community organization.”
Students and senior citizens alike got into the fun.
“It’s really important to give back to the community, especially to those who really need help,” said Aleya Smith, a student from Hinton, who has been helping the Lucky Leprechauns effort for five years. “I’ve helped with several backpack drives and other organizations. And it always feels good to give back to the community. Just to see people happy is a really good feeling.”
Students from North High School, Bishop Heelan High School and many other area schools also were on hand for the night of excitement. Smith was joined by her mom and friends from Hinton.
And as big a deal as this night was, the real action happens on Saturday, when Santa Claus stops by the dealership to distribute gifts to the young recipients.
It’s all about those kids, said Jan Monk, who brought her friend to the wrapping event. “This was a good opportunity. Kelly and her crew really do a great job. She really gets people involved. She is a character and we love her.”
Monk donned a Christmas-red shirt with a large Santa face with the word “Believe” across the top. “I just loved the shirt. I thought kids have got to believe – even at my age, you still have to believe.”
As she and her friend worked away at fulfilling gift tags, each with a list of gifts on back, they laughed and checked out each gift. “There are a lot of Barbies, lot of Frozen stuff,” she said. “I haven’t seen the movie. I’ll have to take my grandkids.”
As they wrapped, Nashleanas worked the room checking each wrapping station and cleaning up paper scraps and restocking toys. As new waves of volunteers arrived, she directed them to open tables and floor space where they could wrap.
Across the room, the base of a Christmas tree adorned with silver and blue balls quickly filled up. One tag had three gifts and a request listed. The tag read: A motorized scooter, a Beanie Boo, $20, and then included this note: “please give the homeless things, too.” One called for peace in the world. “They are just incredible,” Nashleanas said as she looked over the finished gift bags.
Monk marveled over the packages as they piled up. “For a kid to get just one gift they would be tickled, but to get three or four, that’s incredible,” she said.
Make cash donations to Lucky Leprechauns for Kids through Dec. 24 at Great Southern Bank, another partner in the non-profit gift program.
About the Author
Thomas Ritchie I love food, cycling, family, music, social media and especially Sioux City. Got an idea for a story - shoot me a note at siouxcitynow1@gmail.com.
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