Local ‘Saint Nick’ gives Christmas gifts to western NC, seniors and first responders
LELAND, NC (WWAY) — This year a different “Saint Nick” will be making a list and checking it twice — to make sure no one is left out on Christmas.
Leland resident Nicholas Newell was born on Christmas Day.
Newell founded the Saint Nicholas Christmas Foundation to bring joy to the young and old at Christmas.
The idea initially started with a Teddy Bear Drive raising funds which are used to purchase new stuffed animals in bulk.
Those stuffed animals are then donated to children’s hospitals and to first responders to have on hand for incidents involving children.
St. Nick’s Wishlist was added to the effort raising monetary and gift donations to fulfill the gift wish lists of residents at assisted living facilities who no longer have living family members, or in some cases income.
This year, the Saint Nicholas Christmas Foundation also partnered with Savage Freedoms Relief Operations and helped them raise more than $30,000.
They hosted events this past weekend for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Click here to donate or find out more about the Saint Nicholas Christmas Foundation.
