Needham Delivers for the Holidays

December 19, 2024
• During the holidays, three Needham nonprofits ramp up their efforts to support people in need, through donation drives, presents and spreading holiday cheer.

Santa Claus Magic

For 364 days of the year, he goes by Gary DeMaria, but on Christmas Eve, kids and their families call him Santa Claus.

DeMaria dons the signature beard, red suit and jolly persona to deliver gifts to local households as part of the Needham Santa Program, run through the Needham Community Action Network. He and nine other St. Nicks surprise about 70 children with presents each year, which DeMaria called “such a rewarding experience.”

“When you walk into a family’s house and you’re just greeted by ecstasy — hugs and joy — and then when you go to a family who really needs it and you’re giving them two big bags of gifts, hopefully you’re making a little bit of a difference,” he said.

Around 20-25% of the families they visit are those in need, DeMaria said, and through financial donations and gifts off their wishlist, the program provides them with coats, shoes, school clothes and more. The charitable portion of the Santa visits — which began when Needham CAN adopted the program from the Needham Women’s Club — has supported newcomers, refugees and other residents around Needham, DeMaria said.

A GoFundMe fundraiser for this year’s program has raised more than $3,000. When DeMaria checks their Amazon wishlist, it’s routinely sold out, he said.

“It’s just amazing that the people here are just incredibly giving and caring and generous and so involved,” he said.

Volunteers wrap more than 200 presents each year, and for most households, parents provide the gifts ahead of time.

The Santa Program began in 1975, and for DeMaria’s family, the annual tradition began before he ever put on the stocking cap.

About 25 years ago, DeMaria first arranged a visit from Santa for his own young children, watching their excitement when St. Nick walked through the door — not the chimney — carrying presents.

“We loved it. The kids loved it and looked forward to it,” DeMaria said.

For families to qualify for the program, most have “one child of Santa-believing age,” so around 9 or 10 years old, DeMaria said. At some houses, Santa will announce himself with “a really loud ‘ho-ho-ho,’” he said, which is fun to witness.

Until the holiday arrives, DeMaria said his family keeps a Santa room, outfitted to accommodate the large inventory of unopened toys and clothes for Needham kids.

And on the eve of the program’s 50th anniversary next year, DeMaria anticipates he’ll likely throw on the Santa suit once more.

“I have been Santa for more years than I even know,” he said. “Christmas Eve with Santa has been in our family since my 27-year-old was 2.”

The Gift of Choice

Around the holiday season, the Needham Community Council would open its doors to households looking for support, and the space at the nonprofit would be flooded with gifts for adults and children to select, Executive Director Sandy Robinson said. The pandemic, however, prompted the NCC to reconfigure their approach.

Since then, the NCC hands out gift cards for select adults and children to purchase their own presents. Adults receive $50 to Target, teenagers receive $100 to Target, and children 12 and under receive $100 to Learning Express.

Of their 335 active food pantry households, about 90% take part in the Holiday Hearts program, Robinson said, with more participants coming through local referrals. That amounts to around 700 people and “a real lot of gift cards,” she said.

“It really makes a difference to a family,” Robinson said. “It’s essential.”

Needham children decorate boxes for the gift cards, and a volunteer also included homemade soap in each package this year, Robinson said. It’s a community effort, and one that’s been running for well over Robinson’s 22-year tenure at the NCC.

The gift cards, she said, empower families to choose the items personally of interest to them.

“It’s hard because individuals prefer to buy the gift. They want to buy the doll, but then finding the right person that wants that particular doll gets harder,” Robinson said. “If we’re able to hand them a gift card… the recipient is then able to go and get exactly what they need.”

The NCC partners with Temple Beth Shalom to supply families in need with Christmas dinners, and over Thanksgiving, the nonprofit filled 220 bags of ingredients for households to make their own meals, complete with a $25 gift certificate. More than 300 prepared Thanksgiving meals were also delivered, Robinson said.

It’s thanks to other Needham organizations and residents that the council can continue to help those in need, Robinson said.

“We are so appreciative of the support we get from individuals in this community,” she said. “They have always risen when we have asked.”

Remembering the Essentials

Over the past month, the Needham Free Public Library has served as a destination to pick up and drop off books — and games, puzzles, school supplies, winter items and more.

A collection box near circulation serves Storytime Crafts, a Needham nonprofit that serves communities in need through books and more. For its fourth holiday drive, the nonprofit will deliver gifts to Boston Public Schools, Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Park, New Bedford and Brockton, Founder and President Lisa Vergara said.

For Vergara, the season is more than just gift-giving — it’s understanding how to serve families who need support, she said. In partnership with Hope and Comfort, another Needham nonprofit, Storytime Crafts put together hygiene kits. They also arrange early literacy bags, which include baby formula, books and other essentials for people living in shelters.

Thankfully, donations “just keep coming in,” Vergara said. The drive runs through Friday, though they accept donations year-round.

This year, games and toys suited for younger children are in high demand, Vergara said, and winter coats and accessories will help families get through the winter.

“We’re seeing an increased need for children and families just to be able to provide gifts for the holiday season,” Vergara said.

Vergara and volunteers — many of whom are local high school students — spent the last several weeks separating and organizing more than 1,000 donations, which occupy several rooms in their donation center.

Their work, Vergara believes, “really goes a long way to spreading kindness.”

“I have a passion for giving back to communities,” she said, “and just knowing that we, right here in our little hub,… we really do have the ability to make a huge impact on communities.”