Leon & Lulu

Santa Claus' eyes welled with tears Sunday at Leon & Lulu's Thank You Santa Send-Off Party when two young girls arrived with a box and a half full of their own toys to donate to those in need.

Leon & Lulu, a store that offers an eclectic collection of furniture, crafts and gifts for the home, hosted the event from 1-4 p.m. to encourage children to write thank you notes, to collect toys for the needy and to give kids one last chance this season to take pictures with Santa.

About 30 children came to see Santa, who greeted them in a tent in the back of the store, and to say thank you before he returned to the North Pole.

Sisters Penelope Day, 4, and Charlotte Day, 7, donated toys they had received from Santa.

Katie Murray, mother of the Day sisters, credited her daughter Charlotte with the idea to give away some of their toys. The idea came to light in September after Charlotte received her birthday presents. She had received numerous presents from one grandparent in particular and toyed with the idea of giving some to her friends.

"She received 13 toys from one grandparent for her birthday and said this seems a little excessive," Murray said of Charlotte. "She suggested giving them to her friends first, then we gave her the option of giving to those who might not get as many presents."

According to Murray, the idea stuck with Charlotte through Christmas. So, after Murray read the post about Sunday's event on Leon & Lulu's Facebook page, she decided that's where they would donate the toys. Plus, she said, it gave the girls a chance to see Santa and Murray a bit of time to shop in one of her favorite stores.

Figuring out which toys to donate was a simple process, according to Murray. She and her husband merely offered a little guidance while their children decided which toys they wanted other children to have.

"First, I got a lot of presents for my birthday, and then I got a lot for Christmas," Charlotte said. "I just didn't need all of them."

The children donated books, board games, Lego sets and numerous other toys. In turn, the presents will be donated to The Salvation Army, the store said.

This was the first year that Leon & Lulu had Santa in the house after Christmas, but it was an idea co-owner Mary Liz Curtin had come up with last year. She hopes the Thank You Santa Send-Off Party will become an annual event at the store.

"I'm really pleased with the turnout," Curtin said. "It is such an offbeat event, and it went great. I was very touched with the girls. It's great to see that spirit of generosity, especially from little kids."

http://clawson.patch.com/articles/leon-lulu-sends-santa-off-with-gifts-for-needy#c