Dear Santa …

Writing letters to Santa has a special meaning this year in the Emerson Public School District. Each letter written supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I felt really good actually. It was really nice to see the little kids writing to Santa,” Kayla Mulligan said.

Mulligan is a member of the Key Club at Emerson Junior-Senior High School. The volunteer club organized the event. About 40 students gathered after school on December 9 to write Santa a letter or draw a holiday picture. Two students worked at each table, and many wore smiles on their faces as they joked and had fun. One dollar was donated to the the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter written. That money helps pay for some children’s wishes to come true.

According to the Make-A-Wish Foundation website: “Make-A-Wish has granted hundreds of thousands of life-changing wishes to children battling critical illnesses. Wishes that give families hope through dark times, strength to persevere and experiences that forever change their lives.”

Jaynie Steiginga, a participant of the event, said she’d go back next year because it was fun.

“I liked it because you got to write letters so you can donate and help kids that wanted presents,” Steiginga said. “[I liked it] because I wanted to help donate presents and [because] I wanted to just write.”

Children’s wishes have included ice skating with professionals, a virtual launch to Saturn, and getting a puppy.