Concord Ledger

The New Hampshire National Guard members are clearly traditionalists at heart.

“For 61 years, Operation Santa Claus has provided gifts for thousands of New Hampshire kids during the holidays,” Rep. Chris Pappas (D-Manchester) posted on Twitter Dec. 13. “This morning I joined SEIU (Service Employees International Union) 1984, New Hampshire National Guard and plenty more volunteers to help load up the trucks with presents ready for delivery.”

According to the U.S. Army website, members and volunteers from the State Employees Association (SEA) transported truckloads of gifts to the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) district offices in Concord during Operation Santa Claus on Dec. 13.

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas | Wikimedia Commons

Each year, the two entities come together to make the drop-offs to some 3,000 families and children in need across the Granite State.

Phillip Burt, the chairman of Operation Santa Claus with the SEA, said many of the gifts go to foster children in every corner of New Hampshire.

“It’s a unique event because the DHHS staff provides case sheets with basic background information and gift suggestions for the sponsors,” Burt told the U.S. Army website. “That means that each child gets exactly what they want for the holidays.”

Sponsors for the outings include state, municipal and county workers, local businesses, schools and community groups. They donate $80 or more in gifts chosen specifically for their child.

For more than the last four decades, Pam Matott has been a staple of the program as a volunteer at Operation Santa Claus. Over time, she said the event has grown with the needs of the community.

“Involvement goes beyond gift giving,” she told the U.S. Army's website. “We are able to significantly help more kids as the event gets bigger and bigger every year.”

Among the most requested gifts this year were bikes, Bluetooth headphones and New England sports apparel.

“There are usually 100 to 120 bikes stacked all along the wall,” Matott said. “Many of the older kids use the bikes they receive as modes of transportation throughout the year. You can see and know you’re making an impact on their everyday lives.”

Even as she noted that the amount of local sponsors have grown over the years, Matott added she hopes to see even more sponsors from outside the Concord area become involved as the event continues to grow.

“Every little bit counts,” she added. “Now, smaller organizations and families partner together to support one child. That’s one more wish that can come true.”