Carson City sheriff's reserve tradition brings Christmas cheer to 86 families

It was the night before Christmas in the capital city which, for a brief time at least, threatened slick and snowy roads but instead brought rain showers as Santa made his way to 86 homes via patrol cars in a caravan led by the Carson City Sheriff's Office Reserve Organization.

In a tradition that spans nearly 30 years, a legion of sheriff’s office volunteers dressed as Santa and elves made pre-arranged home visits around Carson City, delivering mighty roars of “Merry Christmas,” candy canes and gifts for children.

Arriving at front doors, neatly wrapped packages were already waiting for Santa to deliver. During the first week of December the sheriff’s office reserve sends a notice out with a hotline number for adults who want their children to experience a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Names and addresses are exchanged with plans for a visit.

Each year the Santa Claus program brings the volunteers to staff it, and this Christmas was among the largest gathering of Santas and helpers, said Tom Crawford, Carson City Sheriff's Office Reserve Commander, who has coordinated the program for the past 11 years. This year there were eight who volunteered to don the Santa suit.

It has become generational for some families to have Santa arrive before Christmas Day. Carson City resident Pat Harrison had Santa arrive for her now-adult daughter Liz Harrison, and Liz made arrangements this year to do the same for her children Nevaeh, 4, Lexi, 2, and Dylan, 5.

“My Mom did it for me was I was a little girl and I wanted to do it for my children,” said Liz. Among the gifts was a new puppy.

At the Schomaker home, matriarch Janis had her children and grandchildren this holiday. She wanted the visit from Santa to be a surprise to everyone. A Christmas Eve dinner had been prepared for the family. By the time Santa arrived the group was settling in for a night of catching up.

At the door, Santa prepared an armful of gifts left by Janis with the help of volunteers Lorna Manoli, Kaylie Eva Brown, and Deputy Reserve Officer Matt Helleckson.

The knock on the door and what followed not only had the children in the room mesmerized, but the adults as well.

A hair stylist at Just Teasin’ Hair Salon, Janis learned of the sheriff’s reserve Santa Claus program through her clients and thought it would be a great idea to sign up for it and surprise the entire family.

“My clients were right. This is a wonderful service, a wonderful gift they gave to us tonight,” she said.

Signing up for a third year because she wanted to see her children’s “eyes light up” like previous Christmas times, Viviana Alcantara said the event “adds to the whole Christmas experience. We love it.”

Santa also did a stop over at the residence of Kristen Hendricks where her children Blake, 5, Rialye, 2, and Anthony, 7 months, prepared cookies to give to Santa after he had delivered them their gifts.

Though little Anthony was frightened by all the commotion during the Santa visit, Blake and Rialye peppered Santa with questions to go along with his cookies.

Finally, at the Reyes home, Santa arrived with gifts that excited Dylan and Olivia, and Ravyn Smith. The gifts were well received with Santa’s visit, with each child wanting individual pictures with him holding up their gifts.

Big John Konvicka, a member of the Honor Flight board, was this year’s newbie volunteer Santa. He came with a few years of experience playing the man dressed in red. He’s volunteered his Santa graces at homes for the developmentally disabled and at hospital wards.

“It is a wonderful experience seeing the happiness in children’s eyes,” he said. “Nights like these are priceless.”

His 9-year-old niece, Kaylie, who has been with her uncle on the Santa excursions before said that even though Wednesday night’s visits by police patrol car was different, seeing the reaction of kids her age and younger remains the same. "It's fun," she said.

Among other reserve volunteer Santa and helpers were Nick McGahuey, Fergi Fergus, George McNeil, Bill Schilling, Cindy Scarce, April Bowers, Daniel Reece, Duy K. Nguyen, Audrina McNeil, JoAnna Rossmeisl.