Stellantis to Participate in the Dear Santa Helper Project Again
Stellantis employees are returning as partners for this year’s Dear Santa Helper Project, and they hope to adopt more children this year than last.
Friends Of Parkside (FOP) has run the Dear Santa Helper Project since 1993. A child writes a letter to a Santa Helper with their name, age, grade, and their top three Christmas wishes, and says why they chose them. A donor adopts that child and buys at least one gift from the list. Children ages 6 to 17 who live at The Villages at Parkside, or who attend an FOP youth program, are eligible.
Last December, 33 children at Parkside woke up to gifts straight off their own wish lists. Stellantis employees went further and adopted 13 Parkside families outright, covering every child in the household, ages 1 through 17. That brought gifts to 35 more children, 68 in all. Christian Washington coordinated the effort on the Stellantis side, organizing employee participation and making sure each adopted family was covered before Christmas.
Afterward the children wrote thank-you letters to their Santa Helpers by hand. One parent, Aquila Lawrence, wrote for her family: “Thank you for all that was provided for my babies in our time of need.”
How to Take Part
Parents complete an orientation first, then the child writes the letter. Letters are due November 1, 2026, and gifts go out in early December. Call 313-822-0311 if you need help with the form or the letter.
Donors adopt a child through the FOP online store, and can also give cash instead. An organization adopting five or more children should reach out directly at 313-822-0311 or santahelper@friendsofparkside.org.
