SALISBURY — There are Santa's helpers and then there are Salisbury's Santa's Helpers, who for 32 years have made sure every child in town finds packages under the tree Christmas morning, no matter their financial circumstances.
This year, with the depressed state of the economy and the high cost of energy and everything else, even Salisbury's experienced Christmas elves will have their hands full. Betty Cloonan — recently honored for her charity work by the Hibernians — believes the helpers will need a lot of assistance this year to achieve their mission.
"A lot of people who have helped us in the past, well, I think we might be helping them this year," said Cloonan, who has led the group for 32 years. "Some people who have made donations for years told us they won't be able to help this year because of finances."
About 400 children a year are served through the holiday program, and Cloonan believes there will be more this year. As in years past, starting in October, parents and guardians can sign up for the program at the office of Salisbury Elementary School nurse Cheryl Draper, as well as at Pettengill House.
After that, the process is turned over to Cloonan, the program's founder. Every home gets a visit from Cloonan. Besides the toys, most of the gifts include necessities both parents and children appreciate.
"Every child also gets a warm winter jacket, if they need them," Cloonan said, "as well as hats and gloves, boots, sneakers, sleepwear and two or three school outfits. And we try to get each child his or her favorite wish toy, plus other gifts that are age-appropriate. ... Everything we provide is brand-new. We don't give used Christmas gifts. Everything is individually wrapped so kids have lots of gifts to open for Christmas."
Salisbury's Santa's Helper program grew out of a mothers' club that Cloonan and others began decades ago, when their children were in school, to provide after-school activities. Cloonan said it turned into a holiday gift program when she and others realized the need.
Every year Cloonan and her crew find ways to buy the thousands of gifts for distribution in December by a couple of Santa's Helpers, dressed in their very best red and white fur suits.
Ways to help
The annual fundraiser for the cause, the Santa's Helpers Auction, will be held Sunday, Nov. 23. It's an event filled with great gifts to bid on and a great holiday atmosphere as well, taking place the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
"This is a fun afternoon, and we have lovely, lovely things," Cloonan said.
This year, the auction starts at 1 p.m. at the Capri Restaurant on Driftway in Salisbury Beach. Admission is free, and bidders can take home things to keep or give as Christmas gifts to others.
The program can also use contributions of money to purchase gifts for children, Cloonan said. Donations can be mailed to Salisbury Elementary School at 100 Lafayette Road, Salisbury. Checks should be made out to Santa's Helpers, care of the elementary school.
"No donation is too large or too small," Cloonan said.
Salisbury school nurse can be reached at 978-463-5860 during school hours. Parents, volunteers and donors can also call Cloonan at 978-465-8412.
