The name “Santa” conjures up thoughts of magic and fantasy.  For some, a visit from Santa isn’t financially possible. Thankfully, the Volunteer Center at Madison College has stepped in to try and bring back some of that holiday magic.

Santa’s Wish List is a program that helps Madison College students by providing gifts for their children. Santa’s Wish List has been around for 22 years, said Cody Shingler, Santa’s Wish List Coordinator.

“Santa’s Wish List is an opportunity or students and staff to help fellow peers. And in a time when the economy is tough and our job as a college is to help re-tool peoples’ educational endeavors in their professional lives – and we can also help them out a little in their personal lives,” said Jason Wiedenhoeft, Volunteer Center advisor.

Students who wish to participate in the program have to apply and meet certain simple requirements. The application deadline this year ended Nov. 4. The gift wishes of children from qualified families are placed on a Christmas tree outside the Student Life offices at Truax and Downtown. Fellow students and staff are then welcomed to pick a child and donate the gifts.

Donations are extremely important to the success of the program. This year, there are over 400 kids that need to be adopted.

“It started with around 35 kids and now we’re over 400 kids so it keeps building every year,” Shingler said.

All donations are due by Dec. 2so that they can be distributed by the end of the semester.

Financial donations are certainly appreciated but “it’s more touching when a staff member or a student adopts another student because it gives that personal touch,” Wiedenhoeft said.

“When you help the Santa’s Wish List program at Madison College, it is students helping students and has more of an impact on our school’s community,” said Hannah Storck, executive director of the Volunteer Center.

Often there are toy drives in the community, but this way the people you see everyday in your classes are helped, Storck said.

This year’s adoption promotion will be a bit different.  The Volunteer Center has partnered with the student interest group WolfP.A.C.K., (Positive Acts of Creative Kindness) to visit classrooms and offices asking people to sponsor a child.

Please email the [email protected] for more information. Put “attention Cody Shingler” in the subject line.