Santa America

About Santa America

Santa America is a national volunteer service organization with a very special mission. Over two-hundred Santas' across America visit children and families in crisis. Santa Claus visits when a child or family needs him—twelve months a year—bringing love, hope and joy to special needs children in a loving visit at home, hospital, or hospice.

Check out their website: www.santaamerica.org

Santa Hugs

When Santas' visit children in hospice facilities, children who are suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and children of our deployed service men and women they often bring with them a Hug to give to the child. These Hugs are scarves designed with mittens at either end. The child is told that whenever they feel they need one, to put the scarf on and their hands in the mittens and give themselves a hug. This hug is a reminder that Santa loves them and is always there for them. 

These Hugs are hugely popular with children in desperate situations, and the need for Hugs is huge. This is where ESA comes in! 


Santa America and ESA

In 2013 Marsha Barns of Kansas heard about Santa America and their Hugs. Marsha brought the project to her state and it quickly caught on. At the 2014 ESA Leadership Conference in Denver, it was decided that the Hugs project was one worthy of the support of all of ESA. Santa John, who presented in Kansas, flew to Denver to give a presentation about the Hugs and how ESA can help. 

Santa John shared that they have a huge demand for Hugs all across the country, but only a small supply, and that they are at the point where they must pick and choose which child should receive a Hug. Santa John then called ESA to action - asking us to commit to creating 4,000 Hugs per year for the next two years. ESA has enthusiastically accepted his call to service. 

If you are already an ESA member, click here to learn even more about the project, get the printable pattern, and get started on making a difference in the lives of children all across the country! 

Not an ESA member yet? Click here to join ESA and learn how YOU can make a difference!