CLAUS Foundation brings good cheer

By: Michelle Grantham

Posted: 12/8/09

His name is Santa Claus, and very few know him by anything else.

Claus, a resident of Wichita, sports long gray hair and a gray bushy beard. He always dresses in red and even strangers know just what to call him. As he walks through the grocery story he notices children gazing in awe and even sees parents get a small chuckle out of seeing him in public. No matter what season, what occasion or what time it is he is always known as Santa Claus.

Santa himself started about 15 years ago according to the big man himself. Claus, which is an acronym for Christians Living Among US, is the foundation Santa began and the foundation that has continued to grow year by year.

The Claus Foundation provides Christmas to those who might not otherwise have one.

It began with Santa seeing fifty kids in the first year of the foundation to him giving stuffed animals to more than 2,700 people last Christmas season.

It is constantly promoting a year-round Christmas spirit of caring and kindness. Santa visits people of all ages and even though his work seems seasonal, it is a year-round job.

"Who I see isn't just young kids with special needs," Santa said. "It's the elderly with Alzheimer's, the elderly who can't move, the elderly who… their kids have forgotten about them."

The Claus Foundation is a non-profit organization funded by Claus, his wife Mrs. Claus and Grandpa Elf. Santa does his work purely for charity though. He refuses to sit in a mall or a photographers studio to bring in business.

"Nobody makes any money off me," Claus said. Santa and Mrs. Claus will tell you at first chance that this organization is by no means their own. They take no credit for the work and emphasize that it is all about the causes.

"This is God's organization," Santa said. As long as God continues to place materials and gracious volunteers in the path of the Claus family, they are certain they are in the right line of work. According to the Claus Foundation website clausinc.org, Santa and his helpers have done work with organizations such as Rainbows United, The Knights of Columbus and The Cerebral Palsy Foundation. They have also worked with DECCA, The Lord's Diner, local nursing homes and schools.

Beside the home of Santa and Mrs. Claus is a lot which the North Pole has been created on. At 1841 S. Glenn St. in Wichita between Thanksgiving and Christmas time seven-foot tall candy canes tower over a plethora of lighted reindeer, the Penguin family, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, a nativity scene and even a live Blue Spruce tree. The Christmas spirit radiates from this place into all who visit. Santa has plans to build a 20 foot by 40 foot live and working Santa's Workshop when the materials are in supply. He wants visitors to be able to stand in out of the cold and sip on hot chocolate while they wait to see Santa.

Last year, despite the freezing drizzle and the bone-chilling cold, people waited in line to see Santa and his helpers at the North Pole. As he prepares for an even busier Christmas season this year Santa continues to round up stuffed animals to give to the more than 3,300 people he expects to see this season. He refuses to see a child without a gift to give them.

"No child should see Santa without a present," Santa said. Even though he only has 3,300 stuffed animals packed into his basement, Santa does not have a doubt that he will have plenty to give come Christmas time.

"It always works out, every year," Santa said. "I always have enough toys." Santa continues to navigate his way through garage sales, purchasing toys with his own money.

"I don't expect people to support my foundation without my contributing to it," Santa said. Santa and Mrs. Claus admit that to be able to do such a thing for the children of our community convinces the couple that they have been abundantly blessed. They will continue to spread the blessing and the spirit of Christmas as long as possible for them.

"We aim to put the Christ back into Christmas," Santa said.