Christmas will likely look a bit different for all of us this year thanks to the pandemic.  But some of Santa’s helpers are doing their best to make sure kids still have the chance to let the Big Man know what they want this year.

“It’s a very unique year for all of us Santas,” says Jimmy Snead, who’s been playing the role for 16 years.

He would normally be very busy this time of year seeing kids at private events all over metro Atlanta. But at 72, he’s only made a handful of appearances due to COVID-19.

“I haven’t done that many things simply because I didn’t think the risk was worth it,” he tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

Some he has made have included a socially-distanced photo session and visiting with kids at a learning center from behind glass doors.

>>Listen to Parrish’s FULL on-air report below.

Betty Mocik Motter is president of Peachtree Santas, the largest organization in the state comprised of Santas, Mrs.Clauses, Elves, and other individuals who portray and support Christmas characters in the community. She has been playing Mrs. Claus for 15 years and began researching back when the pandemic first began how to safely interact with children.

“Santa and the Mrs. Clauses are in a very high-risk category. Many of them do have underlying health conditions and even the ones that are healthy and fit should not be exposed to this,” she says.

That’s when she learned of The Snow Globe Santa book, written because of the pandemic, which incorporates a snow globe for Santa and Mrs. Claus to be able to safely visit with kids.

“It’s like a pop-up tent. Once it’s popped up, it is 7 feet tall and 12 feet in diameter and Santa and I step inside,” says Motter.

Both the inside and outside are decorated, and kids take turns going up to the outside of the clear vinyl where they can touch hands with and talk directly to the couple.

“The children were just elated. It was an absolute wonderful experience,” she says.

She’s already had half a dozen visits with kids in the snow globe with more events planned.

“We’ve had some families that have gotten together as kind of a block party. We’ve done it in the middle of a cul-de-sac; we’ve done it on the lawn; we’ve done it in a gazebo,” says Motter.

And when she’s not visiting with kids in the snow globe, she’s doing virtual visits where the parents have signed up and shared information about their children to help give it that personal touch.

She says the pandemic hasn’t really affected their wish list when it comes to toys. But it’s clear many are aware of what’s going on.

“They’re hearts are in the right places. And many of them are asking, ‘All I want for Christmas, Santa, is for me and my family to be safe’,” says Motter.

Cox Media Group