Legend has it Santa Claus came into existence sometime around 280 A.D. in modern day Turkey.
Legend has it Santa Claus came into existence sometime around 280 A.D. in modern day Turkey.
It is said St. Nicholas, a monk, gave away all of his inherited wealth and traveled the countryside helping the poor and sick.
Much admired for his piety and kindness, St. Nicholas became known as the protector of children and at Santa’s Hideaway Hollow in Middlefield, even a pandemic can’t stop the good he aims to do all year round.
Santa’s Hide-a-Way Hollow is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 that is dedicated to working with seriously and terminally-ill children and their families to provide comfort and support throughout the final stages of the child’s life.
“While this has been a very difficult year, this turned out to be a year of silver linings,” Santa said. “Many children thought Christmas was canceled. Many parents worry about providing for their children. But we have found everyone we have worked with to be so appreciative. Families are still finding the hope and magic in this Christmas season.”
Many children ask to see Santa for their last Christmas as they near the end of their struggle and this place is committed to meeting that very need any time of the year.
“The first little boy who sat on my lap told me, ‘Santa, you know I am dying, just make my mommy happy,’” Santa recalled. “I think that we have been able to continue to do that throughout this whole year.”
Santa explained they had a Zoom call in the spring with board members and dedicated volunteers, and made the decision to cancel all of their events for the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They typically hold seven weekend events at Santa’s Hide-A-Way Hollow during the summer and early fall months, with each day dedicated to a specific hospital or group.
“Right now, we could be packing our ambulance with toys in preparation for hospital visits next week, but instead, we are at home,” Santa said. “We have managed to keep ourselves very busy. We adapted to doing Zoom calls with different organizations of children around the United States for the past few months. We are still able to sing with the children, engage with them and share with them that Christmas isn’t canceled.”
Santa and his elves are doing up to three Zoom calls a day.
“It began in July with a call scheduled here and there and now we don’t have a day without seeing children virtually,” Santa said.
Santa’s village hosted 3,000 people last year, including children and parents.
“That doesn’t include the hundreds of children we were traveling to see at hospitals, hospice or their homes,” Santa added.
The total number of visitors since Santa Hide-a-Way Hollow opened 40 years ago is 198,000.
“Support from people within the community is everything to us,” Santa said. “Early on in building Santa’s Hide-a-Way Hollow, we had neighbors who were racist and homophobic. They did not support our vision … so we moved. We are so blessed to be among people, neighbors and friends willing to help. Donating money or time are both so valuable to us and Geauga County has blessed us with many generous people.”
Jackie Quercioli, Rotary Club of Chardon past president, said the work Santa does is remarkable and the Rotary club is happy it can help him make a sick child’s day better.
“During my presidency year, I was able to help choose our recipient of our Call to the Heart that occurs during the Harvest Auction, and always one of the highlights of the year,” Quercioli said. “As evidenced by the generosity of fellow Rotarians, local businesses and guests, we were able to make a substantial donation to Santa’s Hide-a-Way (Hollow). Knowing that these funds help to ease the suffering of a terminally or gravely ill child’s life and provide them some time to get away from the hospital and experience some joy is something I cannot even put into words.”
Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica has known Santa for a long time.
“I enjoy being one of his head elves and doing what we can,” Stupica said. “Disappointing we couldn’t do the events in the summer as so many children and their families look forward to them. COVID can’t stop Santa though. Nothing does.”
Sister Susan Javorek, of Church of the Holy Angels in Chagrin Falls, helps organize a service day for church volunteers every year at Santa’s Hide-a-Way Hollow.
In September, 30 to 40 volunteers from the church spruced up picnic tables and painted.
“Santa is bound and determined Christmas happens regardless of any obstacle,” Javorek said. “Santa does so many amazing things. He’s a true Santa, so selfless and constantly thinking about children and families and finding a way to meet those needs. He does make miracles happen.”
Santa, his elves and other volunteers have used this time to make many repairs and improvements to the village, including new roofs on four buildings and 1,000 feet of asphalt to ease the difficulty of pushing a wheelchair, with plans to add an additional 1,000 feet.
They acquired a restroom trailer with flushable toilets, running water for the sinks and will be adding a wheelchair ramp to Jovi’s Nail Salon.
An Airstream trailer is in place and will be finished soon and 32 families have already planted a Christmas tree in memory of their child.
With the help of Amy Rogers, who works for Pepsi, Santa’s village will be adding a second beverage trailer, this one will have a popcorn machine.
“December 23rd is going to be an historic day,” Santa said. “We are using all of our friendships through the state of Ohio with police departments, fire departments, government officials, etc., to light up all of the children’s and some veterans hospitals across the state. We want the children and veterans to know that they have not been forgotten even though we are unable to visit them this year. We are honored to be a part of this event.”
Children and their families will be notified the day before.
Santa added when he gets the green light from the hospitals — especially with vaccines becoming more and more available — they will be ready.
“We are eager to open the village back up and show the families the improvements we were able to make this year while it was closed,” Santa said.
He said he has one wish for all families.
“Health — that is always my wish and what I wish I could promise each and every child I visit,” Santa said. “This year has proven to many what the most important things are in life. So many took health for granted before this year. But each and every family we visit with knows how valuable health, one more Christmas, and one more happy memory are.”
