Santa in the City
I was encouraged to give more this year, to do a bit more, for local charities after learning about the Santa in the City program. I hope that you are, too. One of the elves, Margie Person-Lam, who's Santa in the City's Director of Agency Partners & Relations, agreed to answer a Q&A for us.
Tell us about your work with Santa in the City.
I am the Lead Agency Elf! And as such, I am responsible for liaising with each of Santa in the City’s Community Partners. I am their central point of contact, working with them on key processes such as letter entry and gift delivery. Our Community Partners are the essence of the charity, as they ARE “the place” where in-need children throughout the Greater Toronto Area write or deliver Letters to Santa; they also assist with distributing Santa’s gifts to the children who’ve written these letters. We work with various Community Partners throughout the GTA, from Rexdale to North York, Scarborough
to the downtown core. I’m really looking forward to an awesome holiday season, helping fulfill the dreams & gifts wishes of these kids, and working alongside our Community Partners.
How did you find out about Santa in the City?
A good friend of mine volunteered with Santa in the City (SITC) during the 2007 program. She loved this charity and spoke highly of the concept and the group. She then introduced me to Jacqueline LaRonde, SITC’s President and Founder, who - side note - is an amazing and inspiring leader! I was invited to join the team, volunteering that same year as the Director of Media and Public Relations. We were a small group, so I also became involved in various tasks such as agency partnerships, toyshop operations, and letter entry.
What were your greatest challenges in helping run and volunteering the program?
This year I have taken on a more substantial role, which is definitely more demanding in terms of time and effort, but is well worth every minute! My greatest challenges this year include:
Creating a research database for our community partners, and implementing a new agency communication process.
We’re excited to have developed a new Agency Communication process this year, which involved reaching new and different Community Partners, focusing on various needs including: Health, Financial, Social, Educational, Hunger, Family, Housing and Cultural. This significant undertaking was initiated and completed during a very short period of time at the beginning of the summer of 2008, to give this year’s team a head start for the 2008 program. It was a great challenge, and again, was worth it!
What were your greatest joys of the last year?
HANDS DOWN becoming a City Santa. Reading a Letter to Santa from an in need child, it's an incredibly moving experience. Last year I read all of the letters and adopted quite a few. Knowing the gifts I gave fulfilled the dreams and wishes for some special kids, makes me happy.
What was the most surprising element of working with a hands-on charity?
I think the most surprising element, and learning point, is the length of time and amount of effort that is required in “becoming” and registering a charity, to gain Charitable Status.
In what way(s) has the work helped you with other parts of your life?
It helps me think about things a little differently. Previous to working with SITC, I worried about more trivial things and myself. Now, I try not to stress about the littler things. Volunteer and charity work has provided me with more focus. I like to spend time thinking about how I can help society and others, especially those who need help most.
In what way(s) has your relationship with others changed, particularly in regards to the upcoming gift-giving season?
Enormously, in a good, good way. My friends and family know SITC is extremely important to me - more so than any other Christmas present they could give me. My gift-giving priority IS to Santa in the City, and ultimately, in-need children. I’ll give you an example of my dedication, last year when I was invited to a Christmas house party, I made sure we had a donation setup for Santa in the City.
Do you have one, memorable, or inspiring moment in the past year with Santa in the City?
Definitely. I was married in the Summer of 2007 and at my wedding I wore a tiara. Later that year, in December 2007 during a shift at SITC’s “Toy Shoppe” - our hub of operation and “place of gift wrap” - I came across a young girl's Letter to Santa, in which, she asked for a tiara; she mentioned in her letter that she loved tiaras and felt like a princess when wearing one. I was so touched by this little girl and her tiara gift request, it really stands out in my mind, as well as, how adorable her letter was. When I went to adopt her particular letter, it was already “taken”, but I know someone gave her a fantastic tiara!
What books are you currently reading?
I love, love, love to read - I often have 3 books on-the-go, but being quite busy, it does take some time for me to get through each one. The books I’m currently reading are:
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. This is Paradise
3. A
What are you currently working on now?
I’m holding Meet & Greet sessions with each of SITC’s Community Partners and securing final letter entry dates. Our website, www.SantaintheCity.ca, goes live to the public on November 17, 2008, so it's a busy time!
Is there anything you'd like to add? The name of your cat, the age of your kids? Your most secret professional desire?
I would love to be an FBI agent or to host The Daily Planet on Discovery Channel (I have a degree in biochemistry from the University of Toronto; thus, I love science and technology!).
ONE MORE THING - I’d like to invite Torontonians to find there inner “City Santa”, by checking our www.SantaintheCity.ca, on or after November 17, 2008. Trust me, you won’t find a better present or sense of spirit anywhere else!
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