Winfield-Mt. Union Santa’s Workshop helps student share holiday joy

WINFIELD — Receiving gifts for the holidays is great, but without help from others, many young people can miss out on the joy of giving during this season. Thanks to an idea started 20 years ago, the continued effort of Winfield-Mt. Union PTO, and the generosity of the Winfield community, WMU students can experience the joy of giving, as well.

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For students at Winfield-Mt. Union School, the annual Santa’s Workshop, where children shopped for thoughtful gifts for their families, gives them this opportunity.

“It is so magical seeing the students’ faces when they find the right gift for their mom or dad,” WMU Secretary Brooke McArtor said. “Sometimes they’re jumping up and down the whole time. They can’t stop talking about how their person is going to ‘love’ the item.”

According to McArtor, she got the idea for the workshop when she saw the challenges many families in the community face during the holidays.

“I noticed that some of our families were experiencing hardships such as refilling medication, doctor co-pays, utility disconnections, and gym tennis shoes as families had to decide where to spend their money,” McArtor explained. “As I looked for ways to be able to help students with their basic needs, I read about Mt. Pleasant doing a shopping day for students. I contacted local parents in the community that I knew were supportive of students and asked them to meet to discuss the possibility of doing this to raise funds for students within our district.”

After sharing the barriers students in the school faced with these parents, they quickly hopped on board with raising funds, purchasing gifts, and working the event. This level of community involved continues to this day.

Residents still donate gifts ranging from holiday decorations to toys, tools, and crafts. Volunteers set up the shopping area, organized items into sections, and staffed gift-wrapping stations so students could take home wrapped presents, ready to go under the tree.

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“We had 4-H groups, assemble pop can/candy bouquets, buy gifts for kids, and decorate bags and gift boxes for us to use,” McArtor said. “ … Without the community support, this would not be able to continue. We had local church organizations help as well as community members sharing with others that we collect items. Our school staff continue to donate items also. It takes a village, and the Winfield village has been great!”

This year’s event, held on Dec. 13, continued the tradition of ensuring every student could participate. Every child was encouraged to shop for their loved ones, no matter their family’s financial situation. Because the items are donated, the prices are greatly reduced to make them affordable for the students.

Students arrive to this event with lists in hand, prepared to shop for parents, siblings, and grandparents. Volunteers assisted in keeping the experience magical and orderly.

“Classrooms bring students in one by one,” McArtor explained. “Adults check the lists to make sure no surprises are spoiled, and kids can pick one item for each person on their list. At checkout, they pay and head to the gift-wrapping area, where volunteers make everything look beautiful.”

While the focus of Santa’s Workshop is to give children the opportunity to bless others, McArtor says students also learn important lessons along the way.

“I believe students experience learning by shopping and paying for gifts,” McArtor said. “It teaches them budgeting and decision-making while also showing them the joy of giving.”

Over the years, the event has created countless heartwarming moments. McArtor shared that one year, a student shopping for his father, WMU interim Superintendent Patrick Coen, insisted on purchasing a quirky “Roadkill Cookbook,” despite being shown more conventional options.

“He was so proud of that gift,” McArtor recalled with a laugh. “I’m not sure if Mr. Coen loved it, but his son was beaming.”

Another time, a child unknowingly selected an item his mother had donated.

“When I had a parent donate some of her Christmas decor that was not being used,” McArtor recalled. “One of her sons found those items and was sure that his mom would love the item. He took it home. Later, I learned that it was one of the items that she had donated to us.”

The workshop has grown significantly since its inception. Now run by the WMU PTO, the event continues to fulfill its mission of spreading holiday cheer while supporting students and their families.

“For the last three or four years, the PTO has taken the lead,” McArtor said. “Many of them were volunteers in the early years, and they’ve carried on the tradition beautifully.”

Feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive, with many parents expressing gratitude for the opportunity the workshop provides.

“We often get messages from parents asking for the date so they can plan ahead,” McArtor said. “It’s wonderful to know how much this means to our community.”

The hope is that Santa’s Workshop will continue for generations to come.

“I hope every student will remember shopping here and the magical feeling of giving a gift,” McArtor said. “This event has always been about breaking down barriers and making sure every child feels the joy of the season.”

For the students who carefully select gifts, the volunteers who make it possible, and the community members who give generously, Santa’s Workshop is more than just an event. It’s a cherished tradition, a labor of love, and a reminder of the magic that happens when a village comes together to support its children.

“For me, the most rewarding part of Santas Workshop was removing barriers for students,” McArtor said. “I also loved seeing the excitement of the children with the presents. I think the excitement is what kept me going and looking to make that sparkle and excitement better for them the next year. It was a lot of work setting up for it but there is no greater joy than the children's reactions to the gifts.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com