How many people have a job description that includes being the manager of North Pole activity? (I’ve often wondered how that would look on a resume.) But it has been my absolute privilege to do that for Sioux Falls Children’s Home. Thirty years ago, I was given a directive from then-CHS Executive Director David Loving “to make our kids’ Christmas the most magical Christmas they have ever experienced.” 

Over the years, there have been so many people who have collectively helped me to carry out Dave’s directive.  And though many parts of North Pole organization are the same every year, my favorite part is the magical “unknown” going into each new year—wondering who will call, why they called, and what they will offer to do. And those answers have been all over the board…

Parents want to buy gifts for CHS kids that are the same age as their own children. A neighborhood baking group asks how many trays of homemade cookies and candies we need. A local business wants to give every CHS child a new bike, complete with personalized license plates. A long-time CHS friend wants every child to have new pajamas on Christmas Eve “so they look nice when Santa comes.” Another CHS friend rallies coworkers, friends, and family to make a fleece blanket for each child, in their favorite colors, and with their first name embroidered in the corner. One caller would like to sponsor a limo ride for some of our kids to drive around Sioux Falls and look at Christmas lights. Rather than gifts for himself, a 10-year-old boy with a December birthday is asking his party guests to bring new toys that he will deliver to CHS for Christmas. One year there was even a call offering to hire a décor service that would outline the rooflines of our buildings in Christmas lights. I could easily share so many other examples of kindness and generosity that could fill many pages!

But the motivation behind one call I took this year has become a story I will never forget.

In early December I received an email from a woman named Susan who explained that her family had decided that rather than give gifts to one another this year, they wanted to donate to Children’s Home in Sioux Falls. She mentioned that she was a General Manager for a Best Buy in another state and would like to focus on any needs we have that she might be able to provide through her store. I knew we had lots of requests for noise cancelling headphones and shared that with her. She said they could certainly help with that, but what else did we need?—TVs? Chromebooks? Tablets?

I quickly realized that she and her family were prepared to do something pretty significant. I decided I had to pick up the phone and call her—to thank her, and just to learn a little bit more about her and her family, and why they chose to call us.

And what a phone call it was…

Susan shared that this had been a very difficult time for her whole family. Susan’s sister died tragically in September, leaving behind a little boy with some serious emotional problems. His father was not a viable option to care for or provide stability for him.

When her sister died, their whole family was concerned about this little boy, two states away, and wanted to do whatever they could to help him. But they also knew he needed help that was beyond their capabilities. He was in need of specialized care and treatment to help him with his extreme anger, anxiety, and deep grief. So he was brought to Sioux Falls Children’s Home.

Wow. Susan’s nephew is here. Right now.

Out of love for her sister, and her nephew, Susan hopes to one day bring her nephew home to be with her and raise him.

Susan has been involved in Zoom family therapy visits with her nephew and CHS staff. Susan told me that even with the first session, she had such a peace after seeing how her nephew has responded to his care and his caregivers, and she has such respect and gratitude for the people she has spoken to that are overseeing his care and therapy. She really feels like her nephew is exactly where he needs to be right now, and that he is in the best of hands. And they are so grateful.

I have been so proud—thousands of times—over these past 30 years to tell and write stories for and about Children’s Home Society and the difference our incredibly gifted staff has made in the lives of so many children and families. Time and again, I have seen God connecting the dots, been given manna from heaven to write about, and been witness to “magic” and the people behind it.

Oh. If you are wondering what Susan’s family and Best Buy friends and coworkers provided? Three 55” TVs, 6 Blu Ray players, 6 HDMI cables, three TV mounts, 21 noise cancelling headphones, three PS4 controllers and six games, 6 Blu Ray kids’ movies, two boomboxes, two karaoke machines and CDs, and 17 Chromebooks.

That’s $9,000 of Christmas magic. Magic that happened because of a little boy that needed our help, a staff that knows how to help him, and a family grateful for the difference it is making.