500 wishes until Christmas

Don’t tell anybody, but the secret Santa with 500 gifts on her list is Sophia Metzner.

Metzner, who gets the workshop going as early as October, is now in full elf mode.

She keeps the wish hearts — modest gifts requested by needy kids and adults in the area — current on trees in eight locations, picks up the donated gifts and coordinates the drive with the county Secret Santa Program, run through the Sonoma County Volunteer Center.

With her mother, Cathy Coleman, the young volunteer will make sure more than 500 recipients get their Christmas wish fulfilled.

“This is my favorite part of the year,” Metzner said. “I really look forward to it.”

For kids, it’s a new toy or game. For adults, it may be warm clothes. Whatever the wish, Metzner makes of the description a heart-shaped tree decoration. Those are placed on Christmas trees at participating businesses: Westamerica Bank in Sonoma, the Springs and Glen Ellen; Parkpoint Health Club; Mary’s Pizza (both locations), Friedman’s; and McLea’s Tires.

To support the program, simply choose a heart and fulfill the wish, which means purchasing a gift, wrapping it, and returning it to the business sponsor’s tree. Metzner will take it from there.

The last day to deliver a gift to a sponsor tree is Tuesday, Dec. 21 at noon.

Coleman began leading the local effort about ten years ago as a Girl Scout project. Sophia was always involved. When she got a car, it was like Santa getting his first sleigh.

“Once she learned how to drive, she really got into it,” said Coleman, who credits her daughter for leading the effort over the past few years.

Metzner said that having a hand in all phases of the gift giving is extremely gratifying, even if she never meets the recipient. “I’m involved in the entire process, even wrapping, so I feel personal connection.”

Donations of money are also welcomed. Those, and the $500 from each location sponsor, go into a fund to buy gifts that are not donated. In addition to Sonoma wishes, Metzner and Coleman help with requests at “heart central,” the county clearing house that will touch the lives of some 13,000 people this season.

“The last couple of days is crazy,” said Metzner. Armed with cash, mother and daughter hit the stores to buy a hundred items a day. “It’s a mad house.”

All the work, from data entry in October to 6 a.m. shopping runs to Target, pays off with all requests answered.

“Every heart gets fulfilled,” said Metzger, hanging more wishes on the Westamerica tree. “That’s the great part.”