In Photo: Santa and Mrs. Claus, Ronnie Boniface, Ashley Wellington, Kelsey Gage, Tiffanie Reilly, Stacy Lumley and Wendy Wellington. People missing are Anthony Wellington (photographer) Tracy Buckridge, Kaitlyn Buckridge and Holly Bodnar.
Taking family portraits at holiday time can be a hectic and daunting undertaking; working with unwilling to smile children, coordinating Santa during his busy season and managing appointments for sittings and pickups. Everything can change in just a moment as Wendy Wellington knows from personal experience after taking a family portrait at her studio, Wonder, Simplicity and Beauty in Portraits.
One family arrived for their appointment and brought along a young girl they were babysitting. *Candice (name changed to protect her identity) had a certain appearance, something clicked and an idea began to form, but for the moment Santa was available and Candice was given her own moment. With a swoosh of a flash and the depression of the shutter, an image was created that helped give birth to a “Give Back to the Community Day” that brought together a team of volunteers and local Pine Bush school district children who otherwise would not have been able to have this experience.
Wendy thought about her own childhood memories and shared, “I will always remember those special days when my parents took me someplace special, a show in the city, a Pow-Wow to see real Indians, trips to the beach. I really enjoyed a trip with an aunt to a different shopping mall to pick out an outfit for my birthday or my Grandmother taking a bunch of us to Devitt’s to see Eggbert.” Wanting all children to have their own special moments combined with the experience with Candice and led Wellington to the Santa Experience and Day of Giving Back. As many will agree, a child may remember the gifts you give, but they are sure to recall occasions that impacted their life.
The Pine Bush Lions Club distributed a number of Thanksgiving baskets to local families in need and so an invitation was forwarded offering children a magical experience with Santa, cookies, a new toy, an ornament, a free 5 x 7 professional photograph and the possibility to receive gently worn dress clothing if desired. Behind the scenes, a number of clients of the Wonder, Simplicity & Beauty in Portraits studio were donating new toys for the event. Additionally, Ronnie Boniface held a number of fundraisers to purchase more toys as well as tape, wrapping paper and other supplies. Pine Bush Equipment, Walden Savings Bank, Luigi’s and K.E. Greer Infrastructure, were some of the local businesses that made donations as well as the Walker Valley Fire Department, the Pine Bush Lions Club. The individuals behind the scenes in addition to Wellington and the Claus’ were Holly Bodnar, Ronnie Boniface, Kaitlyn and Tracy Buckridge, Kelsey Gage, Stacey Lumley, Tiffany Reilly, Anthony and Ashley Wellington. These people provided not only planned assistance but stepped up when families could not find the way by picking the children up or helping someone start their car at the end of their appointment.
The day before the event, the gifts were sorted and as in the North Pole, Santa selected which child would receive a particular toy. “Putting the time in to hand pick each gift added a special touch instead of just picking a toy out of the girl age 5 – 10 pile,” Wendy stated.
On a cold Sunday morning, Anthony Wellington took his post in the street to help direct traffic and parking, the volunteers were stationed outside with racks of donated clothing and inside, Santa and Mrs. Claus awaited the children with Wendy and team. Time and time again the children expressed heartfelt gratitude, parents shared their stories and the tears were held back. Magic was happening. A Hess truck was given to a boy who used to receive them from his grandmother, she has passed and he is doubly touched. Another child receives “just what they wanted” and heart strings are pulled. One three year old boy announced it was his birthday and at the end of his visit, gave Santa a big hug and a kiss on the cheek, just because. Santa was able to spare a few minutes after the event to explain how touching it was to place exactly the right gift into precisely the right hands. Following their time with Santa, Mrs. Claus helped them create a personalized ornament keepsake and then off to decorate sugar cookies. Anyone within hearing range is touched, as children ask if they can hold on to their juice box or cookie for school tomorrow. Some arrive chilled to the bone because they do not have a warm coat, or hat or mittens and it is not because they are lost, these items are simply not available to them. A second idea is formed.
A last minute push and requests are spread through the community for warm coats, boots, hats, and scarves to be dropped off and sorted within the week so they are available to the children when they arrive with their families to pick up their photos with Santa. Adding to the list of volunteers, in addition to grocery items for each family Joanne Gross of Sneakers to Boots donated 9 gift certificates for new boots, Ellen Quimby of Quimby & Smith was a participating drop off point, a number of service organizations have hand knitted scarves and donated cold weather gear, so many to thank.
With such a high rate of success and overwhelming participation from the community, Wendy Wellington has promised to offer this event again next year and is contemplating a few enhancements. Perhaps young guests would arrive a bit earlier and be given time to select and change into gently worn formal clothing as well as some time with a volunteer hairdresser before their moments with Santa. And yes, everyone can contribute for next year in a number of ways. Purchase an extra toy, roll of wrapping paper or tape, hold onto children’s outgrown outerwear and dressier occasion clothes and reserve them for 2011. Cash donations are always welcome to the Pine Bush Lion’s Club P.O. Box 1118 Pine Bush, NY 12566.
A bit of whimsy mixed with practicality, offering the best you can to those who need it the most and allowing the littlest dreamers to put aside their worries and enjoy a few enchanting and possibly breathtaking moments. Wendy adds, “At least that was my dream… to have them lay in bed just before they fall asleep with wonderful thoughts of a special day.” Indeed.
