Truly Secret Santas Behind Gift Donation Program

It's a classic tale that most know too well — "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." The green grouch and his dog-made-reindeer slide into town, stuffing Christmas trees and gifts through chimneys and piling the goods on their sleigh, hoping to ruin the Christmas spirit.

But it’s not the gifts they receive and the goods that surround them that make the holiday so special to the Whos — something the Grinch himself eventually understands and something that Port Washington resident Jennifer Doonan came to learn overnight herself thanks to the Secret Santa Society.

A single mother working full-time to support her son, the Doonan's Christmas was looking pretty grim last year.

“Our Christmas was very touch and go — I was concerned on how I would get gifts for my son,” Doonan said in an e-mail.

Then, one fateful night, her son answered the door only to find an entire Christmas tree and a box of gifts waiting for them in the hallway outside their apartment.

"When I went to the door to see what he was staring at, I found a pre-lit Christmas tree, and a large box. It was addressed to both Adam and I," she said. "I looked around the hallway to see if I saw anyone — I didn't. It was a complete surprise! I had no idea who did this wonderful thing, who had thought enough of us. I was crying the whole time we went through the box. With it was a letter explaining that we had been nominated and were chosen for this 'gift.'"

Doonan was the recipient of a gift from the Secret Santa Society, a group that continues to operate anonymously in southeastern Wisconsin; last year, both families were from Port Washington and Saukville.

He (or she) goes by 'Head Elf'

Though Doonan has reached out via e-mail to try to thank the gift-givers, the only name she’s gotten back is "Head Elf."

"We are not a government or federal agency," Head Elf wrote in an e-mail. "We are not affiliated with anyone. We just give for the sake of giving. To know that a family out there somewhere got a truly wonderful and unexpected surprise. Santa knows they were good this year."

The program started in 2003, when Head Elf’s parents asked that no gifts be given to them that year, but rather to donate to a program that helps someone in need.

"While that was a terrific idea I felt it was a bit impersonal not knowing the person," Head Elf said. "I thought it was better to give to a family on a more personal level. So I told my parents I would do that but that I was going to do it for a co-worker."

Head Elf purchased gifts for a co-worker and family that was struggling.

"A family I knew was struggling, I went out and got her and her husband gifts as well as the kids. One night, when I knew she was working, I snuck in the break room to take her car keys from her jacket," Head Elf said. "I left all the presents in the front seat of her car with just a note telling her not to work too much this holiday season.

"After sharing this story with a few friends and continuing to keep it a bit of a mystery, we have built our own little 'Secret Santa Society' that really is a secret. We get more and more people each year who want to donate."

If you know someone you’d like to nominate to receive a Secret Santa gift, or you’d like to donate to the cause, you can contact Head Elf by e-mailing secretsantasocietysewi@gmail.com. The group asks that nominations include a story about the family, with some information about the situation.

"While we would love to help each and every one, we are still a very small group so we select the most in-need at the moment," Head Elf said.

A heart that's grown 3 sizes

This year, Doonan said she and her son will go without Christmas gifts because they’ve decided to give back to another family in need.

"This year we donated items, both to Secret Santa as well as the Salvation Army Tree in Walmart," Doonan said. "Our Christmas this year isn't going to be about what we get, it's going to be all about giving. Adam has offered to not get toys in order to help other families."

Head Elf said that is exactly the type of message the program was meant to give on a personal level.

"While I can’t speak for everyone in the group, to me, personally it is a way to help teach my children the true meaning of giving, being kind and doing something nice just for the sake of doing something nice," Head Elf said.

As for Doonan, Christmas will probably never be the same.

"This has turned me from a Grinch into a real life Who from Whoville," she said.