Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

Whether you have read it before or never heard the story this editorial from September 21, 1897 that appeared in "The Sun", of New York touches the heart about the power of faith, belief and the goodness that can come from it.

Dear Editor,

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to have men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest men, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
— Francis P. Church, The (New York) Sun, 1897

I was fortunate enough to experience and witness the power of hope & belief today when I was able to be part of an event that was spearheaded by Domenick Savino the CEO of Drexelbrook Catering and Corporate Events Center.

 Through the efforts of Domenick and The Drexelbrook Catering Family a truck load of food, clothing and toys arrived at City Team Ministries in Chester today and will provide a Christmas to many needy families.

To see the faces of the volunteers and some of the people they serve come to life as cases of chicken, breads, desserts, bags of toys and warm sweaters and so much more get unloaded was a reminder of what is truly important at Christmas and everyday.

To hear someone say, "So many people will be happy to see the cases of soda because they so seldom get soda" made me realize how fortunate I am.

One of the other very special parts of this was how personal it was to Domenick Savino. He not only was the driving force behind this annual event he was loading, unloading and driving the truck to make it happen in a timely manner so those in need could have a Christmas on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. What a joy it was to see his son Christian on board to help.

Through the efforts of Domenick and the Drexelbrook Family there was truly a Santa Claus for many children and Families in need this Holiday Season. From the Drexelbrook Catering Family to you and your family we wish you the very best of this Holiday Season and extend our best for a great 2011.

If you wish to help City Team Ministries we are still collecting food, clothing and toys until next week for another delivery to be made before New Years. Please contact Gene Blum to arrange to drop off or pick up of food, clothing or toys.