We can’t be sure when it started, but for well over twenty years we can be sure it will happen.  Each November, Janet Milazzo, Hillcroft’s Chief Operations Officers, sends out a message to all staff. 

The subject line:  Secret Santa. 

And just like that, the fun begins! 

Hillcroft’s staff look forward to this message each year.  Janet sends out a request for volunteers who are willing to play Santa for one of Hillcroft’s clients.  Each year about thirty staff and their families receive a wish list from a Hillcroft client who does not have family to share Christmas gifts with him/her. 

The lists include some basic needs—new clothes, shoes, and jackets.  But, like most Christmas shopping, the best part of the list for the volunteer Santas are the wishes on the list. 

A new guitar, restaurant gift cards, movies, music, make-up—these wishes are the requests that Hillcroft’s staff know the client doesn’t have the resources to purchase for himself.    Even with well over thirty clients on the Secret Santa list each year, Hillcroft’s staff make sure that the wishes are fulfilled.  The volunteer Santas take great delight in finding just what the client requested. 

A month after the Janet sends the Secret Santa message, the magic of Christmas at Hillcroft will appear.  Each volunteer Santa will wrap the items purchased from her wish list and deposit them in Janet’s office.  The pile of shiny wrapped wishes grows and grows until they are taken to the clients’ homes and placed under their Christmas trees.    

Hillcroft’s volunteer Santas are given a wonderful gift in fulfilling clients’ Christmas wishes.  We are offered the opportunity to make sure that all of members of our agency’s family have something special to open on Christmas morning. 

At the heart of Hillcroft’s Secret Santa efforts is the desire of our staff and their families for all our clients to know that they are thought about, cared for and that we truly want their wishes come true.