More than a century ago, a column appeared in The New York Sun, a prominent newspaper at that time, under the heading: Is There a Santa Claus?

It’s the story that includes the famous line: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

Written by Editor Francis P. Church, it was a response to a young girl’s struggle with belief in an entity with a higher nature, particularly in generosity toward children. Church wrote: “He exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion exist.” He went on to assert that these are immutable qualities that exist forever in the hearts and minds of humankind.

More than a half century ago, the Santa Fund was started by The Telegraph to give Greater Nashua’s needy children a happier holiday. Every year since, the Santa Fund has collected generous donations from readers and others who want to share with those not as fortunate. The Salvation Army and the Front Door Agency (formerly the Nashua Pastoral Care Center) help The Telegraph in the distribution of these donations.

As this is written, the Santa Fund’s cash donations have risen to more than $72,000 this year, which is slightly down from last year’s total just five days before Christmas of $86,592.65. Last year, a wave of late donations surged into the Santa Fund in memory of the children who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Regardless of where this year’s total finishes, it shows the tremendous generosity of people in the Nashua area. It truly is a community effort.

Through the dedication and good work of the Salvation Army and the Front Door Agency, The Telegraph Santa Fund will also see to the delivery of Christmas presents more than a thousand children in Greater Nashua. From games, dolls and sports equipment to snow jackets and sweaters, these kids will experience the magic of the holiday season thanks to the kind hearts of our readers.

It is an understatement to say that the holidays are a busy time of the year. Between shopping, entertaining and family time, the days in December fly by. In spite of that, many hundreds of our readers and other caring members of the community have made a difference by donating money, toys, clothing and personal time to The Telegraph Santa Fund.

People like Bonnie Draper, of Wilton, who donated a large check in memory of her husband, Stuart; the children at Birch Hill Elementary School in Nashua, who collected and donated mounds of toys; the members of the band Casual 6, who donated $5,000 in proceeds from a recent concert; the hundreds of employees of Fidelity and BAE Systems who delivered truckloads of toys and presents; and the hundreds of other people who donated in big and small ways to make the Santa Fund a success.

I have met many of you in The Telegraph lobby in Hudson. Everyone has an interesting story to tell. I would like to meet each and every one of you, and I wish I could thank you all in person. I am amazed by the effort everyone makes, whether young or old, in groups or individually. Those efforts include musical performances, fund drives of every type, bake sales and just passing the hat. Taken together, these efforts touch thousands of people in southern New Hampshire, and they keep the Santa Fund – and thus Santa – alive in the hearts and minds of children and adults alike.

There are many fine opportunities to do good things for others this time of year. The Telegraph Santa Fund is one of them. The Virginia O’Hanlon named in the old newspaper column died at about the same time The Telegraph Santa Fund was created long ago.

But, by whatever means you choose, with your “love, generosity and devotion,” you restore our faith in that higher nature that all of us at heart are capable of, all of us want to believe in and so many desperately need.

Thank you to everyone for the good that you do for others. And from all of us at The Telegraph, we wish you a joyous Christmas and holiday season, along with success, good health and peace in the year ahead.

“At The Telegraph” is a weekly column written by members of the newspaper’s editorial board. Greg Pohl can be reached at 594-6472 or gpohl@nashuatelegraph.com.

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