Do You Believe in Santa Claus?

I’m working on a gift for my husband. I want to make him the Santa to the girls of St. Bakhita. You see, my husband doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. His logic is sound. He has seen so many good boys and girls in the United States and around the world who do believe, but don’t receive gifts or even necessities each Christmas. And he has seen families, overwhelmed by a need to meet society’s expectations of what a Christmas should be, miss the “reason for the season.” It has made him quite skeptical of the bearded man in red.

That’s why we long ago agreed that Santa Claus wouldn’t visit our home, although every year, something appears for those who do believe. The package is marked only by the name of the recipient. My husband has never received such a gift in our time together.

I, on the other hand, believe with my whole heart in Santa Claus. I cannot say if he still leads the organization he has built or if he has retired by this point. Whatever his day-to-day involvement, I am confident his network continues the mission. It is a special network of people who believe. I know, because I am one of those recruits. They are people around the world compelled to spread cheer to young and old alike. A network attempting to fill the gaps we see when Santa and his elves miss a house, or when families need necessities beyond gifts. We strive to give without expectation of receiving something in return.

The Girls of St. Bakhita

Some people believe and others act. My husband is one of the latter. Though he does not believe in mythical elves delivering gifts via flying sleigh, he does the work, and he does’t limit it to a single season. Not too far from our residence in Accra there is an orphanage for girls, St. Bakhita Foundation Orphanage. This orphanage takes care of 30 girls ranging from 4 years to high school. These girls have arrived there for different reasons. Some have lost their parents to death. Some have parents who cannot care for them due to addiction or disability. Others have been rescued from child marriage. All of them needed the shelter, care and education made possible through the orphanage.

Not long after our arrival here, Carlton told me about the orphanage, and we have been trying to support them ever since. We regularly collect toys, books, and linens from our community to take to the school, and we sponsor two of the girls for the costs associated with high school. We often help with other bills as well. When school started last fall, Carlton worked with a charity in the US to get backpacks for all of the school-aged girls.

Locally they receive some support, but their supporters don’t have much for themselves, let alone to help the girls.

Help Us Help Them

This year, I am hoping to organize something more—and finally get Carlton that unsigned gift. This year for Christmas, I want to fund the orphanage for a year, or at least get closer to that goal. That will give us time to set up a long-term solution for supporting them.

I can’t do this on my own.  So, I was hoping you could help. I’m asking you, my friends and family, to be Santa for the girls of St. Bakhita and then to be one in your their own communities.

Maybe you can give a month’s rent, or sponsor one of the girls for school, either tuition or meals or even both. Maybe you can pay a month’s utilities, or even a portion of a month. Whatever you can contribute will be much appreciated.

I also want to encourage you to be Santa Clause in your own community, so if you don’t already have a Santa project planned and funded, consider what you want to give the orphanage, and then give half to support children and families in your local community.

Below is a table of costs in the budget to help, guide your giving. We are not a registered non-profit, so your gift is NOT tax deductible. Based on state laws, for the moment, I can only ask those of you who are residents of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. I will let you know when we can solicit funds in other states.

I have a separate bank account for the funding and keep separate books for our efforts, and will provide reports through the year as we work to create a proper organization to fund the orphanage for the long run.

We appreciate anything you can do to help. Thank you.

Shannon

How to Help

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