Carson City students write to Santa for good cause

Project is part of ‘Believe’ campaign to benefit Make-A-Wish program

Parker Hale, 7, knew exactly what to ask for when he wrote a letter to Santa on Wednesday.

“I want a Nashville Predators hockey helmet and a jersey,” he said. “I like hockey, and they’re my favorite team. I also want a pet turtle.”

But the Seeliger Elementary second-graders had a greater purpose in penning their letters.

“It’s to help sick kids,” said Eva Anguiano. 7.

The students are participating in Macy’s seventh annual “Believe” campaign to benefit Make-A-Wish, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

For each letter received at Macy’s through Dec. 24, Macy’s will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million.

Teacher Virginia Evans said the exercise was a good introduction into writing friendly letters, which she was going to teach in the fourth quarter.

“They’re a little ahead,” she said. “This is good practice for them.”

She encouraged the students to not only list what they wanted for Christmas, but to ask questions and tell Santa what they thought of him.

“You are very special,” Gideon Feuling, 7, wrote. “He is very hard working because he goes around the whole world every single Christmas.”

Anguiano had a series of questions for the Jolly Old Elf. “How are you?” she asked. “How many reindeer do you have? I want to know how he is. Really, I want to know how many reindeers he has because he has an awful lot.”

Jessica Barry, 8, had a less palpable wish.

“I’m asking if everybody could keep the true meaning of Christmas,” she said. “It’s Jesus.”

The “Believe” display, complete with an oversized mailbox to Santa, graces the main entrance to Reno Macy’s facing Virginia Street in Meadowood Mall.

New this year as part of the letter collection, customers can visit macys.com/believe to email their letter to Santa.