Quiet Visits with Santa held for families with special needs

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Airlie Gardens and the Clinic for Special Children teamed up to put on Quiet Visits with Santa for a second year.

Quiet Visits with Santa is a free event for families with special medical needs. The program allows children who experience anxiety in large crowds or sensory integration problems to visit with Santa in quiet environment.

Medical staff from the Clinic for Special Children serve as Santa’s Elves and help provide a calm visit for families unable to attend busier venues.

“Last year I really didn’t know what to expect because it was the first year, but this year we are seeing the same families coming back and it’s honestly magically,” Sharon Aldridge-Morris, organizer, said. “It really is the true spirit of the season.”

Photographers were onsite to capture a special keepsake for each family.