City of Wilsonville employees shared the Christmas spirit this year with two local families by donating cash, gifts, gift cards, blankets, movie tickets, and four boxes of food. Donations also supported Clackamas County’s Compassion in Action with toys, clothing and miscellaneous items.
For the last four years, employees have selected a tag labeled with a gift idea from the tree in the City Hall lobby. Employees bring the gift to City Hall where it is gift-wrapped and assigned to the appropriate family.
“Our employees went over and above again this year,” said Candi Garrett who organizes the yearly event. “Every tag on the tree was taken. We helped make Christmas a little more special for a couple of families.”
On December 20, Santa played by Public Works Operations Manager Floyd Peoples and Candi delivered gifts to a married couple with four boys ages 7, 9, 12 and 15.
“Santa posed in front of their Christmas tree with a gift to prove Santa really was at their house,” said Candi. “The parents were very touched and appreciated everything under the tree.”
Santa and his helper then dropped off gifts for a single mom with four kids’ ages 9, 11, 16 and 18. Both families had a Christmas tree void of gifts prior to the visit. That quickly changed as Santa and Candi made several trips to bring in gifts and food.
Peoples is retiring after 16 years with the city but has promised to be back as Santa next year.
“I’m already looking forward to next year and helping out more families in need,” said Candi. “This experience is etched in my memory forever.”