SANTA’S HELPER

A girls’ shopping trip is partly responsible for turning an Owatonna woman into becoming Santa’s helper for Christmas.

On a recent afternoon, Gail Buckingham and a couple of her friends were going to shop in Faribault when they found the stores they wanted were closed. They decided to head to Northfield where Buckingham stumbled across something that changed her outlook for the holidays.

“Thrifting,” Buckingham said, “you never know what you’re going to find. It’s fun.”

She discovered a red metal mailbox that read, “Letters to Santa.”

Buckingham turned to her friends and said, “I think this needs to come home with me.” And it did.

She’s not sure how old the mailbox is but speculates it could be from the 1960s. “I’d like to know what the history of it is and how many lives have been impacted with it,” she said.

It also got Buckingham thinking about how she could add a little holiday magic into young people’s lives.

She promptly added the mailbox to her outdoor decorations, tucked next to a large Evergreen tree in the yard. She then posted a private message on Facebook encouraging friends to have children drop off letters for Santa and she would provide a return letter from Santa himself.

“It has created good harmony amongst the neighbors,” said Buckingham, a retired realtor.

Several people took Buckingham up on her holiday offer. “It puts the Christmas spirit into it,” she said.

She responded back to the letters she received by letting the children know that Santa and his elves have been busy and the reindeer love carrots. “I also wished them a Merry Christmas,” Buckingham said.

Asked what kids want today, Buckingham chuckled and said, “Things we didn’t ask for when we were small. Techie things.”

Most importantly, Buckingham is thrilled with how her idea produced family unity. “It’s all about where they are doing things together—children, parents and grandparents,” she said. “Creating the memories is important.”

Her only regret is she didn’t come across the mailbox earlier as she was only able to have it out for less than two weeks before Christmas.

Her wheels are already turning to think of how she can do something earlier and bigger next year to spread the love and joy of the season even further. “I keep thinking what can it produce and who can it touch,” Buckingham said, noting she’s a little worried that it could get too large for her to handle, and she may need to partner up with somebody.

She encourages people to watch next year’s holiday season to see what she comes up with.

“Brighter things are ahead,” Buckingham said.