Secret Santa organization finds new home
The Secret Santa organization, which has been housed in the Harper-Hutchinson building for approximately 30 years, now has a new location to call home.
Secret Santa had to find a new building when U.S. Bridge (Ohio Bridge) donated the Harper-Hutchinson building to the city as part of agreement to close a portion of Gomber Avenue so the company could expand. The company previously allowed the organization to use the building rent free.
With plans to sell the building, the Guernsey County Port Authority accepted it from the city.
Secret Santa moved into its new location at 708 Woodlawn Ave. in April, with the help of student athletes from Cambridge High School and a semi truck donated by Gary Dale Lippert of Salesville.
The Secret Santa is a community-based program that provide Christmas gifts to area children in need. During an average year the organization provides gifts for approximately 2,100 children.
The new location provided to the organization indefinitely by U.S. Bridge is much bigger than the former one, according to John Davis, program coordinator.
"We got everything moved in there. Now, we just have to arrange the stuff, straighten it all around and put it back to normal and see what we can do," Davis said.
Secret Santa is also adding a fundraising event to its schedule. In addition to the two boot drives held in November and December, they will be adding a Christmas in July boot drive on July 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the intersection of Southgate Parkway and Wheeling Avenue.
"This will help us in serving the children of Guernsey County," Davis said. "Since the pandemic, we have noticed the need is greater than ever."
The organization survives solely off the generosity of the community for donations and volunteers.
"We take donations all year round," Davis said. Monetary donations can be sent to Secret Santa P.O. Box 304, Cambridge, 43725.
This year the Secret Santa program tentatively plans to start taking calls for assistance on Nov. 14.
For additional information call 740-439-0934.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Secret Santa organization finds new home
