Rep. Murt Recognizes Santa’s Helpers

State Representative Tom Murt (R-152) spoke before the Jan. 9 Upper Moreland regular board of commissioners meeting, where he presented awards to two individuals of the greater Upper Moreland community for their efforts in the Santa Claus Visitation program.

The individuals recognized were Upper Moreland resident and senior Monica Lannon.

According to Murt, his office set up the Santa Claus Visitation program in 2007, when a parent of child with intellectual disabilities and similar special needs contacted his office about the struggle of seeing Santa during the holidays.

“It just makes it very difficult for a child with those types of attributes to go to the mall and visit Santa,” Murt said, noting the often-hectic holiday atmosphere and long lines to see Santa at various shopping malls. “I asked the parent, ‘How about if Santa came to your house and visit your child in your living room?’”

Murt said that the program has grown in demand over the years, and his office sought more help. He said that program volunteers, such as de Jonge, playing the role of Santa, has made it possible to extend holiday cheer for many families in the greater Upper Moreland area.

In addition to the Santa Claus Visitation program, de Jonge also makes appearances as Santa for several charity- or civic-related events, including last year's .

“In all candor, he looks a lot more like Santa Claus than I do,” Murt said, noting de Jonge’s distinct white beard. “He’s certainly not your run-of-the-mill Santa Claus.”

According to Murt, due to business in Harrisburg this year, he was not able to visit homes, and praised de Jonge for “stepping up” in his stead this past Christmas season.

The program is available to any family that requests its services.

Over the years, the program has sent Santa throughout Upper Moreland and Horsham townships, as well as in Whitpain and Blue Bell. The program also visits the Widener Memorial School, a special-needs school in Philadelphia.

Murt also recognized Lannon for single-handedly coordinating the program’s visits over the holidays.

“This year was a little unique, we had a record-number of requests for visits with Santa Claus,” Murt said. “Monica Lannon set up all the visits, booked all the visits, and coordinated the visits with Jonathon.”

According to Murt, Lannon took on the Santa Claus Visitation program as her senior project. In addition to the family requests, Lannon also coordinated the program with the special education teachers of Upper Moreland and Hatboro-Horsham school districts.

The Hatboro-Horsham senior is thinking of a career in occupational therapy.

Murt added that Lannon went along with de Jonge on the visits, with de Jonge as Santa, and Lannon as Santa’s helper.

“Unfortunately, we hear a lot in the media and in the newspapers about the decay in society and what’s wrong with our world,” Murt said. “And, Jonothan de Jonge and Monica Lannon worked very hard to make the world a better place this holiday season.”