Waseca Area Neighborhood
Service Center

IMPACT OF THE SANTA ANONYMOUS PROGRAM TO CHILDREN IN THE WASECA COMMUNITY What is the impact to children in need when they are part of the Santa Anonymous program? Happy faces and shouts of excitement as hundreds of children can receive gifts that their parents might not have been able to provide for them for Christmas. Income eligible parents complete applications at the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center during the specified sign-up period. The application includes questions on child(ren) gift preferences. The Santa Anonymous team gathers the applications and starts shopping for gifts that align with their wants. The team then calls the parent(s) to come “shop” at a Santa Anonymous site at a specific time so that gifts that can match the child’s list will be available. The parent(s) leave with smiles on their faces, knowing that with this program they can provide gifts for their child(ren) that they may not have been able to purchase on their own. The Santa Anonymous Auction is the backbone of this program. 2023 marked the 28th year that the Box Car Bar in Waseca has held this auction the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Box Car Bar owner Todd Schmidt and his team are working behind the scenes most of the year to make sure the auction will be a success. They start looking for auction items, ranging from gift certificates, homemade items, one-of-a-kind items, and usually some unexpected treasures well in advance of the big day. They plan their advertising and reach out to potential donors, stressing that the auction is all about making a child(ren)’s Christmas a happy one. On the day of the auction, items are carefully set up, for people to check out before the auction starts. The event is open to the public. On the night of the auction Todd Schmidt reminds the attendees the money raised goes to help kids have a happy Christmas: “I tell people that if they are looking for a bargain, you’re in the wrong place,” The auction then starts, with longtime auctioneer Bill Harguth (25 years) and Landon Flemming (2 years) starting the bidding with the first item. Bidders’ generosity has made the auction a tremendous success, raising between $30,000-$35,000 each year. All the auction money is put into the Santa Anonymous account to use to fund the gifts on the children’s want lists. Todd Schmidt shared, ‘It feels mighty good on Christmas morning knowing that all around the county, kids are waking up to presents they might not have gotten.” We welcome fresh faces and past attendees to be a part of this year’s magical Santa Anonymous Auction. Mark your calendar for the Saturday after Thanksgiving.