PAYING IT FORWARD
Reader remembers when she ‘needed a lift’ while raising two kids alone
Fond memories of a surprise 1978 delivery from the Star’s Santa Claus Fund has one woman spreading the joy today,
“Other people are in the place where I once was and now I’m in a better position, therefore I’m able to help someone else.” BARBARA PETTY RETIRED TEACHER
Nearly 40 years have gone by, but Barbara Petty still remembers when the colourful gift boxes arrived unexpectedly at her door in 1978.
Petty was a single mother at the time, struggling to make ends meet while caring for her 5-year-old daughter and 2year-old son. She hadn’t been expecting the gifts from the Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund — she presumes a social worker signed her up — and the surprise delivery brought both excitement and relief.
“It was a struggle being a single parent,” Petty says today. “But getting those gifts was one of the good things that happened.”
The shoebox-sized presents, one for each of her children, were colourfully wrapped in red-and-green Christmas paper.
Inside was a pair of mitts, some toys and candy canes. Petty recalled how much she appreciated the practical gift, while her kids were thrilled by the toys and candy. “I was surprised, the kids were surprised.”
Those memories of her children’s delight — and her own gratitude — led Petty, now 71, to start donating to the Star’s Santa Claus Fund a few years ago.
“I just felt I’m in a position now to pay back.”
The retired teacher says every time she read about the Santa Claus Fund in the Star, she would remember when she was the one who “needed a lift” and think back on how much she appreciated getting the gifts when she did.
“That’s what motivated me to give,” she said. “Other people are in the place where I once was and now I’m in a better position, therefore I’m able to help someone else.”
Petty’s story of returning a favour is similar to what motivated Joseph Atkinson, the Star’s founding publisher, to start the Santa Claus Fund in 1906. Atkinson, who grew up poor, was gifted a pair of skates one Christmas by a generous stranger.
It was a kindness that he never forgot and why he wanted to make sure every child in the city received a gift at Christmas.
The Star’s Santa Claus Fund raised $150 from Star readers in that first year and sent gift boxes to 373 children.
Today, the charity delivers more than 45,000 gift boxes each year to children in need in the GTA.
Since 1906, more than 2.3 million children have received a gift box.
This year, the gift boxes include a warm shirt, hat, mitts, socks, small toy, book, candy and dental hygiene items. All of the items are age appropriate and gender neutral.
The charity’s fundraising goal this year is $1.7 million. As it has since the beginning, the Star pays the administrative expenses related to the charity.