‘It just means a lot to me:’ Santa’s Secret Helpers in Stone County deliver gifts to kids in need

BRANSON WEST, Mo. (KY3) - A nonprofit called Santa’s Secret Helpers delivered gifts to around 14 families with 50 children in need on Christmas morning.

“It just means a lot to me,” said Logan, a child who received gifts from the nonprofit. Logan and his brother Ryder come from a family of nine children.

Tom Harrier started Santa’s Secret Helpers in 2016 and has grown since then.

“One family (home) we went into, and they had no gifts under the tree. Had we not delivered those gifts, they would have had nothing,” Harrier said.

Police and fire personnel are some of the volunteers handing out gifts to the kiddos on Christmas day.

“It shows to the kids that we’re here to help and to not be afraid of us. Especially in an emergency situation, kids can get very scared because they don’t know what’s going on, so to see us in a non-emergency situation is very helpful for them,” said Dylan Honea with the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District.

“To make a difference and impact on these children to see the police (and fire) in a different light. They can trust us, they have more confidence in us, and (makes) us more approachable,” said Police Chief Todd Lemoine with Kimberling City Police.

If you want to give back for next Christmas, visit any Arvest Bank and make donations out to Santa’s Secret Helpers.

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