I hope everyone is holding up during the Christmas season, long lines, traffic, rude people etc.

If you feel stressed out while shopping just remember why you’re there in the first place.  You’re there for family and friends and the joy they’re going to get when they open your present.  What’s a couple extra minutes finding a parking space, standing in line or dealing with stressed out people?

HOLIDAY GIFT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Each year Adopt-A-Family seeks volunteers to “adopt” an individual or family for the holiday season. These special donors or sponsors provide holiday gift certificates for children and the elderly living in poverty.  Sponsors are anonymously matched to a senior or family of one or more children.  Adopt-a-Family provides the sponsor with the age and gender of each child in the family and a brief description of the circumstances that led to the need for assistance.  The sponsor then provides gift certificates for the head-of-household to use in purchasing holiday gifts.

For more information visit http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dssc/adoptfam.html

I would like to start by saying the best thing about being a Biker Claus is family, friends and the community. Without those it’s just dressing up and riding.

Helpful hints to all you Santa’s on motorcycles.

1. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on the suit. There really isn’t an average cost but you can find a descent Santa suit for around $40.00 – $100.00. You can obviously spend a lot more but lets keep it real.
2. I would highly suggest ditching the red Santa velvet pants. You don’t want to me sliding all over your seat when you’re trying to ride.  Leather chaps and jeans are warmer and they won’t burn on your pipes.
3. If your motorcycle does not have a front fairing I would suggest tying the beard with some ribbon or something. Otherwise you’re going to have a face full of white beard and zero visibility.
4. Although Santa wears a hat, do your self a favor and put a helmet under yours. Riding around in public in a Santa suit can make people do some very unexpected things.
5. Have some fun and decorate your motorcycle.
6. If you happen to stop and get off your motorcycle don’t be surprised by the little people you attract.  Make sure they are greeted with a hearty HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas.
7. You can’t do this alone.  The more the merrier is all I have to say.
8. Have fun and put a smile on everyone’s face you see.

1. Angel Trees: Local businesses and possibly your employer as well, will usually have an angel tree up for Christmas.  Angel trees are the perfect way to donate this Christmas because you will have a list of exactly what the child needs and wants.  For more information visit www.angeltree.org or your local Salvation Army or United Way.
2. Toys for Tots: Toys for Tots program sponsored by the Marines.   Visit www.toysfortots.org for more information.
3. Canned Goods: Less fortunate families need food all throughout the year, but Christmas is always a wonderful time to donate.  You will usually find several places collecting canned goods.  Usually grocery stores, schools, and even the company you work for will be collecting canned goods this Christmas.
4. Coats: Christmas time in most areas is a very cold time of the year.   Many unfortunate people don’t have coats or the means to buy one.   Donating your old coats is just another small way to help the less fortunate this Christmas.
5. Animal Shelters: People aren’t the only ones who are less fortunate.   Every year thousands of pets are sent to animal shelters.   Usually animal shelters don’t have enough resources to take care of all these animals.  Whether you donate money, toys, food, or treats remember all our furry friends this Christmas and donate to this wonderful cause.  For more information www.aspca.org or www.hsus.org.
6. Our Troops: Christmas is a lonely time of year when you’re away from family.  Here’s a place to start if you don’t know of any organizations www.adoptaussoldier.org.
7. Neighbors: Many of us have people in our neighborhood that are less fortunate.   Donating to your neighbors may not be as easy. You may find that your neighbors are very proud and will refuse donations.   Christmas is the time for sharing and even if your neighbors refuse donations you try to give to them directly, consider leaving the gift on their porch.   This requires being very sneaky or being able to run really fast.   Leave the gift inside their screen door when they are gone or leave the gift on their porch, knock, and run.   This allows them to not have to show a brave face in front of you.
8. Shopping: Another easy way to donate this Christmas is to shop at stores that donate part of your total to charities.  Several stores at Christmas time will donate a certain percentage of your total to the less fortunate this Christmas.
9. Donate Your Time: Donating your time this Christmas is very easy.  It doesn’t have to be through a specific organization, there are lots of people in your neighborhood that could use your help this Christmas.  Do you remember when the Salvation Army use to have people in Santa outfits at store fronts?  Put your your special spin on it to spread a little Christmas cheer.  www.bikerclaus.com/network.html.
10. Ask Around: When all else fails and you aren’t sure how to donate this Christmas call around to places like the health department, the food stamp office, etc and find out how you can help.  These places will know of  people who need your help this Christmas.  They, of course, won’t be able to give you names, but will be able to tell you what is needed this Christmas.
    

    If you’re still wondering how you can help, read this quote below from the movie Scrooged.

“It’s Christmas Eve, it’s the one night of the year where we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more…for a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be. It’s a miracle, it’s really sort of a miracle, because it happens every Christmas Eve….

“You have to do something, you have to take a chance, you do have to get involved. There are people that are having trouble making their miracle happen. There are people who don’t have enough to eat, there are people that are cold…you can go out and say “hello” to these people. You can take an old blanket out of the closet and say “here” you can make them a sandwich and say “oh by the way here!” I get it now! If you give, then it can happen…then the miracle can happen to you. It’s not just the poor and hungry, it’s everybody who’s got to have this miracle!! And it can happen tonight for all of you! If you believe in this spirit thing, the miracle will happen and then you’ll want it to happen again tomorrow. You won’t be one of those (Scrooges) who says Christmas is once a year and it’s a fraud…it’s not! It can happen every day..you’ve just got to want that feeling. And if you like it and you want it you’ll get greedy for it…you’ll want it every day of your life, and it can happen to you. I believe in it now! I believe it’s gonna happen to me now, and I’m ready for it. It’s great! It’s a good feeling..it’s better than I’ve felt in a long time! I’m ready….have a Merry Christmas, everyone.”

From the movie “Scrooged” (1988)

starring Bill Murray

CHRISTMAS BELLS -
ADOPT A KETTLE PROGRAM
The Salvation Army is looking for companies, churches, school groups and civic groups to volunteer a day or more to ring bells at the traditional red kettle.   A few hours of bell ringing at a Salvation Army kettle will help keep a family warm this winter and assist a family during the holidays as well as throughout the new year.

In New Castle County, the Kettle Drive begins on November 13th and runs daily through December 24th (except Thanksgiving and Sundays). Please call John Yunker at (302)-472-0728, or email john.yunker@use.salvationarmy.org

For Sussex County Bellringing Volunteer Opportunities please contact Envoy Chas Engel at 302-628-2020.

When I was growing up Christmas wasn’t about religion and it was never a word I used to offend someone. Christmas was about that jolly old man in a red suit that would watch you all year and reward you with a present for being good or coal for being bad, it was really that simple. Don’t get me wrong, I would never give someone coal because they were bad. I have fond memories of giving and receiving coal that I’ve added to the bottom of this page.

When I was a child my family would hang Christmas lights on the house so Santa could see us as he flew over. Our tree was decorated and lit by the front window so Santa Claus would know we were expecting him.
That was when I was younger but now that I’m older I still think about that jolly old man in the red suit and the thing we use to call “Christmas Spirit”.
How long until Santa Claus is just a memory and another word we can’t say because he represents Christmas?
Today presents are bought by the millions and coal is something we burn in a stove to keep our house warm.

To me Christmas is about becoming a little closer with family and friends. It’s an excuse to get together and share each others company. Giving someone a gift is me showing that I care about you and I want to show that I appreciate having you in my life by taking the time to pick out a gift and wrap it in some decorative paper. It’s the joy of you opening that gift and seeing the excitement and joy that it brings you.

When I say Merry Christmas the true meaning of the word to me is I wish you and your family well.  I wish you joy and happiness this year and years to come.
That was then and this is now. Today if I were to say that I feel like I’m swearing at someone or not respectful of them. The meaning of the word Christmas I was brought up to know and cherish has been taken from me. If I want to celebrate Christmas the way I was brought up to celebrate it I have to do it in private or say Merry Christmas under my breath so I don’t offend someone’s religion.

When I watch Christmas movies I don’t see or hear reference of religion. All the classics still have reference to Christmas, how long until they edit that out like a swear word?
I see the people giving thanks to one another and I hear the words “Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men”. Is there anything wrong with that phrase? Today people would say, “why just men” or “that’s a Christian saying”. That’s because we’re all different and unique. It’s the reason some of us like vanilla and others Chocolate. It doesn’t mean we’re bad just different.

When you celebrate this year I wish you and your friends and family joy and happiness.
My family will be celebrating Christmas in our house. Christmas lights will be hanging from our house for Santa to see and our Christmas tree will be decorated and lit by the window. Come over if you still believe.

This is my memory of coal:
When I was in my early 20’s my family was together on Christmas Eve. We celebrated Christmas Eve by having dinner together and opening presents afterward. At the end of the night all the presents were opened and unwrapped paper and boxes were cleaned from the living room and discarded.
Christmas morning we would wake up and there was always that one special gift that Santa brought for us.
Each year on Christmas Eve we had dinner and afterward we all sat around the Christmas Tree opening presents. My father was what you would call a man with a great sense of humor so that year I thought I would play a prank on him and wrap a lump of coal in a box from me. As we sat around opening presents we both got to the present that each of us bought for one another. I tried as hard as I could not to laugh or look up to see his face as I was opening my gift. As I cut the tape and opened the box I pulled back the tissue paper to see… COAL! He busted out in laughter and continued to open his from me. He cut the tape and opened the box, pulled back the tissue paper and there was his lump of coal. We both busted out in laughter so hard tears came to our eyes. Everyone in the room was laughing so hard that both of us had received coal but neither of us knew the other had bought it.

For me Christmas is about giving a little more.  I guess that’s part of the reason I started dressing as Santa.  I did it 4 years at work and then started doing it on my motorcycle.  I want to keep the memory and tradition alive.

The people we see on the road tell me we are doing the right thing as they go from grouchy Christmas shoppers to laughing, smiling people.  I know from the photos taken and people telling us it’s great what we’re doing that we made their day a little less stressful and gave them something to take about to family and friends.

If you’re a Biker Claus in your community I would really like to hear from you.  Keep the true spirit of Christmas alive!