12/07/2024
Last night I had the immense privilege of covering this year’s Santa photos for David at the annual Holiday Gathering in Pickerington. His studio, located right in the heart of our little village, has always been a place of joy & happiness, especially during the holiday season. David is still working hard on recovery but graciously allowed us to open his studio doors and continue his cherished tradition, photos with Santa.
This year’s event was a great success, and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing help of my six senior volunteers: Kendelle, Amber, Addie, Kaitlyn, Ian, and Dax. They worked tirelessly to make the day magical for every family who walked through the door, and I’m beyond proud of their hard work, kindness, and dedication.
A huge thank-you also goes to my sister Chelsi, and longtime friend & senior mom, Taryn, for their help in overseeing everything! You both kept everything running smoothly and made my job so easy! Oh, and a huge shout-out to my forever boyfriend (aka husband) who didn’t bat an eye when he was “voluntold” to format SD cards for 3 hours straight!
Perhaps the greatest thank-you of all goes to Santa himself for taking time out of his incredibly busy season to spend the evening with us. Your warmth, humor, and magic brought smiles to so many faces.
Together, we raised $707 for the local food pantry and an additional $280 to help David on his road to recovery. These numbers reflect not just generosity of the community but also the heart and effort everyone put into making this event run smoothly.
To everyone who came out, thank you for your support! If you’d like to continue showing love, please consider donating to David’s GoFundMe and follow his CaringBridge page to stay updated on his recovery.
This experience reminded me of how powerful a community can be when we come together. Kendelle, Amber, Addie, Kaitlyn, Ian, and Dax—you are shining examples of that. Chelsi, Taryn, and my forever boyfriend—you are my rock stars. Santa—you are the heart of this tradition.
Thank you all for making last night so special!