If you’ve read The Item at all during December, chances are you’ve come face-to-face with the jolly old man in a bright red suit pointing to stories of those in our community who need extra help giving their children a positive Christmas experience this year.

This is my first holiday season as news editor, and when I inherited Item Santa, I was blown away by its history. Now in its 57th year, the tradition is more than double my age. Over the years, it has helped countless local families make their spirits bright. Funds raised each year finance the following year’s toy distribution.

This week, Lynn’s Salvation Army and Rotary Club chapters teamed up to distribute thousands of toys to around 700 families with the money raised from Item Santa last year. In 2022, Item Santa raised $80,917, according to Essex Media Group Controller Susan Conti. She said around $25,000 of the funds were raised directly from reader donations and the rest came via General Electric’s Good Neighbor Fund.

Despite having very little to do with last year’s organizing myself, I happily accepted an invitation to witness some of the toy distribution taking place at Lynn Memorial Auditorium on Wednesday afternoon. Parents, predominantly from Lynn, but also of Swampscott, Nahant, Malden, and Medford, lined up to choose the best gifts in a gymnasium stacked with toys for newborns, teenagers and every age in between. (See A8 for photos of the impressive selection.)

“The donors made all of this possible,” Salvation Army Capt. Enmanuel Villegas said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”

Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson and Ward 5 City Councilor Dianna Chakoutis also stopped by Wednesday to lend a hand. They, along with Salvation Army and Rotary Club volunteers guided eligible parents through what amounted to a free toy store. With black garbage bags in place of Santa’s red velvet gift sack, parents chose two or three toys for each of their children. Villegas added that there was no limit for families with a large number of children, ensuring all kids feel remembered by Santa this year.

As I paced the auditorium, I couldn’t help but imagine the memories that will be made possible by these toys. From a child’s first time riding a scooter, to a teenager’s first time making a TikTok with a ring light, to the unique bonding that can only take place on family game night, these donations will make a difference.

If you have contributed to Item Santa this year, or any time in the tradition’s history, thank you for making the holidays a little bit brighter. 

Rachel Barber is The Item’s news editor. Her column appears every other Thursday.