“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” This quote from Aesop—an ancient Greek storyteller who is usually known for his famous collection, Aesop’s Fables—has inspired three Niverville residents to reach out to their community in search people in need this holiday season.

Maureen Cope, Peter Fot, and spokesperson Michelle Anderson say that Niverville Secret Santas was created as a means to help those in the community who have fallen on hard times.

“Our goal is to collect as much money as possible in order to purchase items for people in need over the holidays,” says Anderson. “So we have set up a PayPal generosity account called Niverville Secret Santas. We are accepting donations via PayPal to provide support to those in the community, whether it be for gifts for the kids, food, personal needs, or clothing. Whatever the need is, we want to help!”

Anderson says that the group’s biggest goal is to help balance out some of the losses people in the Niverville area have gone through during these long pandemic years. She points out how many people have lost jobs or portions of their income due to COVID-19.

The Secret Santas want to help as many of those people as they can, as well as people who are struggling financially for any other reason.

“We may have to ask for assistance with the deliveries on December 23, if there is a high demand,” Anderson says. “None of us are benefiting financially from this and we are volunteering our time and energy. We will use every donation we receive to purchase as much as possible from the lists we receive. And if there is anything left over, we collectively decided it will go to Niverville Helping Hands.”

The Secret Santas of Niverville also intend to approach both Niverville’s town council and the local Chamber of Commerce to see if either would be willing to donate items or money toward this initiative.

Anderson stresses that all recipients’ details will be kept confidential. As well, she adds that “there will be absolutely no judgment… I know firsthand what it’s like to be in this situation, and asking for help is never easy.”

Anderson moved to Niverville in 2010, and it quickly became clear to her that she would never leave.

“What we have in Niverville is special,” she says, “and I am so grateful to have found this place and to raise my children here. I believe many in town would echo these sentiments. Niverville is an amazing community for our ability to come together to assist those in need. I have seen countless posts on social media speaking to incidents of random acts of kindness. I think that, despite the fact that we sometimes fall on different sides of the issues… everyone can agree that assisting our fellow Nivervillians is a worthwhile endeavour.”

The deadline for donations will be December 20, with deliveries being made on December 23.