Sign Up For A Personal Visit At Your HoCo Home By Santa And His Elves, Donors Needed

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The coronavirus pandemic posed many problems for people and businesses, but it also uprooted many traditions for kids. Since children couldn't visit Santa at malls during the heart of the pandemic, The Santa Project was formed and Santa instead went to more than 2,400 kiddos' homes to keep the magic alive. This holiday season, The Santa Project will expand its coverage area.

Blossoms of Hope and Zaching Against Cancer Foundation are spearheading this year's project as it grows.

“Being able to bring joy to so many children last year with Santa home visits was a highlight of
Blossoms of Hope’s year. To be able to partner with a like-minded organization to expand that
reach this year is even more exciting,” Joe Barbera, chair of the Blossoms of Hope board, said.

Sponsors help support Santa visits in designated neighborhoods and families sign up for an in-person visit with Santa and his elves who come armed with goodie bags and ready for many selfies to be taken. This year, Carroll County has been added to the list of areas Santa and his crew will visit. The dates of visits will be between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 4-5, Dec. 11-12 and Dec. 18-19.

“This is a perfect pairing for the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation,” Felicia Fleming,
executive director of Zaching Against Cancer, said. “We are delighted to work with Blossoms of Hope and to bring holiday cheer to so many children who have felt isolated these last two years. It is great to work with another organization that focuses on cancer-related issues and has our
children’s well-being as a #1 concern.”

Vera Simmons with Blossoms of Hope told Patch that families who would like Santa to pop by for a visit should go to www.blossomsofhope.org/thesantaproject and register for a visit. Anyone with health issues or other special situations should specify that when registering. Families also can be nominated for a visit by someone outside the family. People also can donate to this project and volunteers interested in stuffing goodie bags can contact the organization.

“It is so much fun to watch Santa and his elf arrive at each family’s home with the children in
excited anticipation,” Susie Davis, The Santa Project chair, said. “He arrives on his ‘sleigh’ and will read each child’s name from his scroll. The children are ecstatic that they are on the ‘nice list’
and are delighted with the giveaway gifts that Santa gives everyone. The fact that we can perhaps double the number of children we visit this year by partnering with Zaching Against Cancer Foundation is a perfect opportunity for both organizations and for the children Santa visits.”