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Last year's mission welcomed a new military family into the Fair Lawn community with gifts and Christmas carols.This year will be even better, Fair Lawn Human Services Coordinator and "Senior Elf Assistant to Santa Claus" Liz Maresca Twiggs said.
"Our person this year just needs a little extra Christmas spirit, and we're going to give it to them," Twiggs said.
"Operation Santa Boone" began in earnest five years ago when Fair Lawn Police Detective David Boone delivered goods to a client of the borough's food pantry. Since then, he has been donning Santa suit and working with a team of elves (high school students and volunteers from the borough’s Human Services, Fire and Police Departments) to deliver gifts and spread Christmas joy around town.
"Since I was a child Christmas has always been a magical time for me," Boone, who is also the pastor at Van Riper Ellis Broadway Baptist Church, told the Daily Voice. "Operation Santa Boone has enabled me to keep that magic alive by sharing the joy and celebration of Christmas with others who need the touch of care and love at this special time of year.
"To see the happiness and surprise on the faces of those we visit is worth it all," he added.
Twiggs says Santa Boone is still looking for volunteers to donate gifts and participate as an elf on the actually day of the event. Anybody who is interested may email her at hhs@fairlawn.org.
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