400 served at annual Christmas dinner
CONNELLSVILLE – The weather outside might have been frightful Friday, but inside the Connellsville Salvation Army Center, everything was delightful as Santa Claus visited with youngsters taking part with their family members in the annual Christmas dinner hosted by the organization. “Everyone is always glad to see Santa,” said Patty Handford, unit secretary, as guests entered the dining area and children got their first glimpse of the jolly man in the red suit.
Dan Schultheis of Mount Pleasant has portrayed St. Nick at the annual dinner for four years, but has more than 35 years of experience in the role.
“I was a truck driver and one winter I got laid off,” he said. “I had a family to support, so I had to do something.”
An advertisement seeking a Santa to greet children at a local mall caught his attention and the rest, he said, “is history.”
“Now, I’m Santa all year round,” he said.
With a full head of white hair and a beard to match, he draws youngsters to his side wherever he might be throughout the year, with or without the red suit.
Several years ago while enjoying a cruise with his wife, he found himself surrounded by little ones anxious to share their Christmas list in the middle of the summer.
“I was under the deck, in a lounge chair, lying in the shade just enjoying myself and my wife said that she was going to go and get us some ice cream,” said Schultheis. “When she returned, there was a line of about 10 kids, telling me what they wanted for Christmas that year.”
Throughout his time of taking requests from the youngsters, the toughest have been when a little one asks that Santa bring home their father from the battlefield.
“That touches me,” said Schultheis. “My response is that their father is doing a great thing for this country; but, right now, it is not his time to come home.
“I tell them that, God willing, he’ll be home as soon as he can.”
Schultheis said that he never makes promises to the youngsters because he does not want them to be disappointed on Christmas morning.
“You never know what the family circumstances might be,” he said. “I listen, but never agree to anything.”
Handford, meanwhile, said that Santa plays a vital role in the annual Christmas dinner.
“He makes everyone smile,” she said.
Handford said that volunteers started earlier in the week purchasing and preparing food for the expected 400 guests.
Hams, provided by the South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club, were complimented with scalloped potatoes, sweet potatoes, coleslaw, green beans and cake.
“We were here at 6 a.m. this morning so that everything would be ready,” she said. “It is very cold outside, so we’re not sure if we’ll have a crowd or not.”
Just before 11 a.m., the doors were opened and dozens entered the dining hall.
“This is nice,” said an unidentified woman. “I’m glad they are here.”