The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program oversees the welfare of these children. Each volunteer undergoes 40 hours of training and gets no reimbursement for their commitment. The volunteers are like "guardian angels" to these children. They stay with each child until he or she is placed into a safe and permanent home.

The CASA volunteers provided the Customs Academy with "Dear Santa" wish lists written by 20 children. Academy staff (instructors and students from the Customs Academy in Glynco, Ga.) donated many Christmas gifts to these 20 children-the largest contribution to the CASA Program by a single group.

This was not a "stocking per kid" deal, but a whopping, overwhelming, major deal. Gifts for all 132 children took up most of the floor in the student center, walking without stepping on a toy required a ballerina's balance. The 20 children sponsored by the Customs Academy received everything on their lists. Three Basic Student Classes contributed money and gifts. Some employees took one child's wish list and bought everything on it. These wish lists are extensive and many of the items can be expensive. One couple fulfilled two children's wish lists.

Years from now these children will remember Christmas 2002 as proof there really is a Santa Claus. They will know that, at a time in their life when they needed support-someone cared. Some kids will give back in full measure the kindness they've been shown this holiday. The holiday season is all about many things, and making children happy is one of them. On the morning of December 25, there were 132 children with grins from ear to ear opening their presents, thinking, "Maybe there really is a Santa!"

Thanks to everyone who helped.