21ST CENTURY SANTA INC

21st Century Santa has special training with children and adults with developmental, physical and cognitive disabilities. Also fully hospice qualified. Our organization recognizes that Christmas may not be on a specific schedule and that the reason for the season is every day and should be shared as such. We provide love and patience as well as new toys to children and adults on THEIR time, when they need it. With the help of Mrs. Claus and qualified volunteers, we are blessed to offer the gift of listening to hopes and dreams as well as fears or concerns and to give a child something to remember their experience with.

Offer hands on small crafts that are appropriate to skill in a setting where individuals can have not only motor skill development but, also interaction with others than family or staff. Outings for recreation that offer a fresh view other than home or facilities.

Candy Cane Village is currently in development. It will be an interactive space that consists of 20-25 actual small buildings that are Christmas themed (hence a village) that will all be under one roof. This will allow for a controlled climate for children and other individuals that do not do well with cold or heat and its fluctuations. It is designed with the needs of children with disabilities first... not as an afterthought just for accessibility sake. Here children and their families can come anytime of the year and experience to sights, smells and sounds of Christmas in an atmosphere that is educational as well as fun! Through hands on learning in Santa's work shop or Mrs. Claus kitchen or taking in the sights of lights and displays of Christmas from historical to fantasy. This is an atmosphere of relaxation as well as excitement to be just a child like anyone else. The general public will also be invited to come because it will be through a place like Candy Cane Village that playing well together and learning that all are individuals to be respected without re-guard to their challenges.

Feeding Senior Citizens that are shut ins. Though this group does receive a daily delivered lunch at mid day, there is nothing until the next mid-day delivery and nothing on the weekends. So two full days with no food and if it is a holiday weekend then three-four days depending on the holidays. We provide a bag of Senior sized meal items to supplement the delivered meals and to cover the weekends. These items require minimal preparation and are shelf stable with the exception of fresh fruit and vegetables that are given in small usable quantities. The bags are prepared with volunteer help then delivered every Thursday to the senior citizen center where volunteers deliver them to our clients. Also included is a weekly card of encouragement.