Santa and helpers make a delivery to Heritage House
A caravan led by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in a red convertible Cadillac rolled down Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa on Wednesday afternoon to the sound of motorists tooting their horns.
Trailing it was a city fire truck from Station 4 and three vehicles loaded with presents — a slow-moving spectacle that elicited waves from pedestrians.
The caravan was bound for Heritage House, one of the few publicly funded group homes in Orange County where women can be with their children as they learn to live a drug-free life, shelter officials explained.
Holding her 5-week-old daughter, Diandra greeted the caravan’s arrival with tears. The 25-year-old said she spent last Christmas locked up on a drug possession charge and for breaking parole. But this Christmas, she planned to spend the day with her new baby and family who live nearby.
“I’m so grateful I’m here,” Diandra said.
She was one of 16 women and 17 children ranging in age from newborn to 6 years to receive gifts through a program called Santa’s Letters.
Firefighter Todd Palombo started the annual program 15 years ago after a letter addressed to Santa arrived at a Costa Mesa post office. Many children and families wrote asking for basics like clothes or, in a few cases, a job.
He also saw firsthand when responding to 911 calls that many people survived on very little.
Palombo has seen families crammed into motel rooms or living in a car. In a county known for pockets of affluence, he said “not everyone is that lucky.”
“One of the coolest things is to say, ‘Hey, you as parents don’t have to worry this year,’’’ he said.
Besides delivering gifts to Heritage House, Palombo said, the program plans to take on a new challenge next year by overhauling the after-school facility in the Boys and Girls Club of the Harbor Area.
Gathered outside Heritage House, the women sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to the firefighters. Meanwhile, Santa asked the youngsters what they wanted for Christmas.
Katelyn surveyed the scene with her daughter, Ashley, 4.
Katelyn said last Christmas she was homeless and addicted to crystal methamphetamine. Her daughter wasn’t with her.
Heritage House officials say the program gives women like Katelyn a 70% to 75% shot at staying clean if they participate in six months of follow-up after they leave.
“I needed so bad to get out of what I was doing,” Katelyn said. She gestured to her daughter. “It’s the biggest blessing to wake up with her every morning.”
Donations to Santa’s Letters are accepted at https://www.santaletterscmfa.org.