Food and toy distribution at the Wausau Elks Club. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Santa and his helpers made an early Christmas stop in Wausau for the annual Elks Santa Visit.
The Salvation Army and the Wausau Elks Club distributed food and gifts to needy children and their families.
Good Fellowship Committee chairman Ray Dabler said this is a tradition that dates back to World War Two. “Men were at war and the families needed help so the men, started giving out food baskets, and then it kind of evolved into more since then.”
The program is focused on giving back to families in need. Bob Henning, one of the five Santas for the visit, this program means more than dressing up in red. “When I grow up we were on welfare and when we needed something when we moved from Milwaukee out to the country, our first winter the Red Cross provided us all with galoshes for the winter and it’s just amazing and it’s kind of a payback philosophy is that good was done on to me so I do good onto others as I get older.”
This year they delivered presents and food to more than 28 families, 108 children in Marathon County. But like most things in 2020 the tradition remains true, with some adjustments. “Well, normally when we get the list of families we do an in-house visit to get sizes, colors, and what they might need but this year we did it by phone,” said Dabler.
Organizers hope to help out more families in need next year.
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