Northwest Santa Brings Christmas to Your Doorstep

Northwest Santa is making his list and checking it twice while he waits for more local children to sign up for a special holiday visit.

In its third year, the non-profit organization has doubled its capacity and hopes to bring Christmas to 300 children from Bonney Lake, Sumner, Puyallup and Orting.  Families that register on the organization’s website get to pick the time and date for a special visit from Santa. In the comfort of home, he’ll sit in the living room, pose for photos and hand out presents. Northwest Santa accepts canned food donations for the food bank, but otherwise the visit is free.

“We’re trying to let people know we’re here and get the word out we’re available,” said Brian Tallon, the organization’s founder.

Tallon said 250 children have signed up so far but there is still space available for more families to have a home-delivered Christmas. The group has collected over 500 toys, ready to deliver. Most of Northwest Santa’s visits are with children who otherwise would not have a Christmas. In addition to presents, Santa brings all the trimmings for a holiday dinner.

“If someone is really not going to have a Christmas, we make sure they do,” said Tallon.

Special needs children also benefit from a home visit with Santa.

“Some of the children we visit have special needs. Certain special needs kids can’t get to the mall to take their picture with Santa, so their parents have no photos with Santa, ever,” said Tallon. “Sometimes people take for granted that you can go to the mall and get your picture taken with Santa. With special needs kids, they are more comfortable with us at their home. To visit with them, that’s special to us.”

All of Northwest Santa’s volunteers go through extensive background checks before they are able to visit local families, said Tallon. Even then, they must work with the foundation a year before they can apply to be Santa. Usually the team that visits families consists of Santa, an elf or two and a driver.

Tallon said many families schedule holiday parties around Santa’s visit and invite friends to come sit on Santa’s lap, pose for pictures and get presents.

The idea for Northwest Santa began at the Tallon Thanksgiving table four years ago. Tallon’s father, Tim, is the director of the Sumner Food Bank. They fondly remembered a similar Santa program from their hometown in rural Pennsylvania and wondered why something like that didn’t exist in Washington.

“We said, instead of sitting here and complaining, let’s do it,” said Tallon.

After three years of delivering holiday cheer, Tallon’s garage is full of Santa suits and overflowing with toys collected throughout the year, waiting to go to a family in need.

“Everyone here does it just for that look on a child’s face when Santa walks through the door,” said Tallon. “When he comes into their house, sits down by the fireplace… every child likes that.”

Learn more about how you can donate to this program and sign your child up for a visit from Santa at www.nwsanta.org. On the site, children can also write letters to Santa and give him their Christmas wish list.

You can also “like” Northwest Santa on Facebook.