Children Find Holiday Magic at TCCF’s Santa’s Workshop

The Thomas County Community Foundation’s beloved Santa’s Workshop once again filled the office complex with joy on Saturday, December 6, drawing young shoppers and an army of volunteers for one of the organization’s longest-running traditions. The program, now roughly four decades old, invites children ages 4 to 10 to step into a transformed holiday shopping space where they select meaningful gifts for parents, grandparents, teachers, or other loved ones — all without the grown-ups by their side.

The concept is simple but impactful: children may purchase up to four gifts for a suggested donation of seven dollars per item, allowing them to experience the pride of giving during the holiday season. Every gift available — tools, blankets, décor, handmade items, specialty treats, and more — is donated by community members who look forward to the event each year. Some donors hand-craft items; others purchase new products; others give cash so the foundation can fill in any gaps in inventory or buy needed wrapping supplies.

This year’s turnout was the largest the foundation has ever seen. According to Tubbs, 157 children shopped, choosing a total of 539 gifts, a sizable jump from 2024, which saw 145 shoppers and 441 gifts selected. The increase of nearly 100 additional gifts highlighted both community generosity and families’ enthusiasm for the event.

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Inside the workshop, the room comes alive as a holiday marketplace. Children walk through with volunteer “helper elves,” thoughtfully selecting items for the people they love. “They are so excited when they come in,” Tubbs said, noting how seriously many of them take the shopping experience. She described young participants carefully weighing options — deciding what their mom might like most or which tool would be perfect for their dad — before proudly watching volunteers wrap each gift right in front of them. “They look so proud when they carry it out of the room,” she added.

Keeping the event running smoothly requires a significant volunteer force. Tubbs said the foundation board mobilizes in full, handling everything from sorting gifts to staffing the event. Longtime partners from RSVP through the Senior Progress Center contribute four to six volunteers annually to handle wrapping stations, a role they have embraced for nearly two decades. Colby High School’s National Honor Society has also stepped in the past two years, ensuring children move quickly from choosing to wrapping to checkout. Additional community volunteers — including the Anna Stithem, the Justin and Melanie Meitl, and Christina Beringer — joined the effort simply because they love the event and asked to help.

“Christmas magic is alive and thriving in our Colby Community,” said Stithem, “thanks to the TCCF head elf and all her helpers Volunteering at Santa’s Workshop, it reminded me how powerful kindness can be when we pull together with open hearts and helping hands. I can’t wait to do this again next year!”

The popularity of the workshop was clear early in the morning. Although the event was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., volunteers opened the doors at 8:45 a.m. after noticing a line forming outside. Even with the crowd, shoppers typically completed the experience in 10 to 12 minutes, thanks to the structured flow built over years of refinement. The morning wrapped up smoothly, with the final shopper leaving around 10:50 a.m.

Behind all the excitement lies a powerful purpose: ensuring every child has the chance to experience giving. Tubbs emphasized that while children offer seven dollars per gift, the value of many items far exceeds that amount. Thick throw blankets worth twenty dollars or more, high-quality tools, and handmade specialty items are all common. The modest donation helps sustain the program, often allowing the foundation to reinvest in youth-focused grants once the season ends.

The heart of Santa’s Workshop, Tubbs said, is not just the wrapped gifts carried out the door, but the joy, independence, and generosity children experience. “They are very thoughtful shoppers,” she said. “It’s a great way for kids to learn about others’ needs or interests — and then choose based on that.”

As the foundation prepares for its year-end giving season and looks ahead to its growing slate of community programs, Santa’s Workshop once again served as a warm reminder of the power of small-town generosity — and the magic that happens when children are invited to give from the heart.

by Derek White