11 Stories Of The Magic Of Christmas To Warm Your Heart

ACROSS AMERICA — In so many ways, this really is “the most wonderful time of the year” — and when it isn’t, neighbor help neighbors.

You’ll find that theme often repeated in this collection of 11 stories to help get you in the Christmas spirit. We start with the selfless act of an Alpharetta, Georgia, teen who set aside his own “I want” list and asked for toys for kids who don’t have homes — or much at all.

Jaden Young, now 17, has been holding “Jaden’s Hoops for Homeless Birthday Bash” for several years now. As a 9-year-old, he tagged along with his cousin, Kaylin Kares, who set aside her birthday to feed people who are homeless.

She was killed in a car crash when she was 15, and Young picked up the tradition. This year, he set a goal to fill 400 stockings with toy donations, but far exceeded the goal. A local social services organization, Family Promise of Forsythe, said it would be able to fill 700 stockings — one for each of the 650 families the agency is serving this year, with a few to spare. » By Kathleen Sturgeon for Alpharetta-Milton, Georgia, Patch

Lighting Up So Many Lives

It’s difficult to say how many wishes have been granted to sick kids because Wayne Imperati, 61, and his son, Anthony Imperati, 32, like to go a little Clark Griswold at Christmastime at their respective West Islip, New York, homes. In the past five years, they’ve collected $15,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation. The kids around the neighborhood like the display, too. “You look out the door and you see the kids dancing in the street,” the elder Imperati told Patch. “It’s really nice.” » By Maureen Mullarkey for West Islip, New York, Patch

Yes, (Insert Name), Santa Claus Is Real

Don’t tell John Dyson (top photo) that Santa isn’t real. He has the look of the standard-bearer of Christmas tidings of joy, and also the spirit. He merrily carries on a family tradition started by his father: delivering gifts to homes around Norwood, Massachusetts — and, to children, a reason to believe in the magic of the season. Dyson said this to a 9-year-old boy who had been bullied in school because he believes in Santa: “I said, 'I heard people told you I ain't real.' So I started trying to prove to him that I knew him. I did my research and told him I knew he won a math award and he ran for his school to raise money for a new blacktop. Who else would know that?" He shared the history of Santa going back to St. Nicholas and told him about his own father being Santa. "Everything I told him was not a lie," he said. » By Mary Ellen Gambon for Norwood, Massachusetts, Patch

‘We Just Love To See Her’

“She’s so giving. We just love to see her. She brightens our day when we come in.” Comments like that were behind a $910 surprise tip to Roxana Salina, a server at the Silver Diner in Elkridge, Maryland, just before Christmas. “They put it on the side and said, ‘We’re going to give you an extra tip,’ ” Salina said. "And I saw all the cash — the hundreds, the twenties, tens — and I say, ‘Are you sure this is for me?’ And they said, ‘Yes.’ ” » By Kristin Danley-Greiner for Elkridge, Maryland, Patch

A State Full Of Santas

Santa — well, several Santas — made sure some 3,000 children in New Hampshire aren’t forgotten this Christmas. It’s all thanks to Operation Santa Claus, a project of the state’s State Employees Association union that SEA/SEIU Local 1984 in Concord participates in by collecting gifts that are then delivered by National Guard troops. The project, now in its 61st year, received high praise from members of the state’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, who said Operation Santa Claus is “really a way we just demonstrate that in New Hampshire, we'll roll up our sleeves and get work done for the people and communities who need it most. And every kid deserves a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday.” » By Tony Schinella for Concord, New Hampshire, Patch

‘Sensitive Santa’ Softens The Season

For some, the sights and sounds of Christmas can be jarring. That’s where “Sensitive Santa” nights come in at a tree farm in Cutchogue, New York. Johanna Benthal, 25 — who has weathered scores of surgeries and other challenges associated with a disease that causes hemorrhaging in the brain, seizures and small strokes — partnered with Stacey Soloviev at Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm for celebrations built around children’s special sensory needs. » By Lisa Finn for Southampton, New York, Patch

All This, After Donated Bicycle Kept Girl In School

An effort that resulted in the collection of 100 bicycles for kids in need started a couple of years ago with a single St. Petersburg, Florida, police officer buying a bicycle for a girl so she could stay in school. He announced he was buying the bike, and before he knew it, Alex DeJesus upped the ante and said St. Pete Fools Charities would donate 50 more. This year, the group donated 117 bicycles. Officer Doug Dilla told Patch that kids are the winners because they receive a gift they might otherwise not have gotten, but also because “it’s a huge connection” that helps police build bridges with the people they serve. » By Skyla Luckey for St. Pete, Florida, Patch

Trimming Others’ Trees

Daphne Taylor’s home is a fun place to be during the holidays, and one of the things she wanted this Christmas was for the joy to be the same for all families in Burke, Virginia. “We always do a lot of decorating, and it just makes me feel in the holiday spirit,” the eighth grader said, explaining why she worked with a local charity to collect Christmas ornaments to help trim the trees of people who don’t have the same advantages. “I wanted to share that feeling with other people who might be struggling." » By Emily Leayman for Burke, Virginia, Patch

The Grinch Gets A Ticket

It’s not Christmas if a police officer somewhere in America doesn’t put The Grinch under arrest for holiday cheer thievery. That happened recently in Verona, New Jersey, where the police department announced in a video (watch it on Patch) showing The Grinch as he was hauled away in the back seat of a police cruiser. “Bye-bye, Grinch,” one police officer chuckled. “One in custody,” another deadpanned. There’s no word on whether The Grinch made bail. » By Eric Kiefer for Montclair, New Jersey, Patch

Paws Of War Delivers A Puppy For Christmas

An Army sergeant stationed overseas was still mourning the loss of his family’s pet when he came across a neglected puppy and began nursing him back to health. His family back home in Neconset, New York, fell in love with the pooch, named Branko, through photos and videos and wanted to make him part of their family. “Seeing how getting Branko to his family made them all so happy, it is a reminder of exactly what we do what we do,” said Dereck Cartright, a disabled vet who is a stateside logistics coordinator for Paws of War, which helped the solider make Christmas special for his family. “Our soldiers do so much for the country, it’s an honor to do something for them in return.” » By Michael DeSantis for Smithtown, New York, Patch

Carolers Grant Dying Wish

Before she died, Worcester, Massachusetts, resident Morgan Freeman wanted to hear Christmas carols one last time. So her daughter, Echo Louissaint, asked her neighbors to help grant the wish. They showed up by the scores to serenade Freeman, who was in hospice care with cancer, and at one point Freeman even joined in, going off script with the seasonal songs and crooning along as a guitarist played “Dock of the Bay.” She died exactly a week later. » By Neal McNamara for Worcester, Massachusetts, Patch

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