Yes, Eduardo – there is a Santa.

It is a story of making memories, recent memories in the mind of a child who had come to this country with his parents – leaving five siblings behind in Mexico with grandparents – the only one here speaking English.

The seven-year-old second grader at Fremont Elementary School was very doubtful – telling his teacher he must have been very naughty, because he didn’t come last year.  He was told not to expect him to come this year either.

That all changed at 10 a.m. Friday morning when Santa and two of his elves escorted by CHP officer James Smith pulled up to the school in two patrol cars with lights flashing.  Santa in his red suit and stocking cap drove one of the vehicles.  

They took the students by surprise as they walked through the second grade classroom door of Ms. Kristina Cross.  They were looking for Eduardo Mejia, having received multiple reports he received no gifts last year – not even a lump of coal. They had made a special effort to see that the youth was not forgotten again. 

Officer Smith stood with Santa and his elves and told the class of 30 that they had come to bringing gifts to all of them and especially to that one student who had been forgotten in 2013 – Eduardo Mejia was sitting in the first row nearest to them.  The boy seemed to be stunned in seeing Santa so close after hoping to see him this year.

The CHP Stockton office put their plan into action in less than 24 hours after hearing the story of the boy whose address had been lost by Santa’s elves last year.  They were going to make a difference with the CHP public information officer making it a priority after learning about the boy from a Manteca Bulletin reporter. 

Smith excitedly told of their stack of packages early Friday morning saying, “Our guys are really pumped up about this.”  Those gifts included a bicycle, a bike helmet, soccer ball, Mine Craft figurines and two police Lego sets.  And they had gifts for the entire class that included beach balls for everyone, back packs and soccer balls and Nerf balls for the classroom.

The officer also spent nearly $110 out of his own pocket.  “All we hope to do is change just one kid’s life, one at a time – If we do that we are making a difference,” Smith said.

The lack of any presents for the boy was discovered by his teacher Ms. Kristina Cross who was leading a Santa letter-writing effort in her classroom.  She noticed Eduardo at his desk in the back of the classroom with tears streaming down his cheeks.  Nothing had been written on his letter – the paper was blank. Concerned, she asked why he was so sad and not writing his letter to Santa.

Eduardo said Santa had not come to his house last year and he was told he wouldn’t be coming this year by a family member.  There was no need to write to him with a Christmas list, the boy said.  Ms. Cross is the sister of a Bulletin advertising saleswoman Vicky Norman-Eddy who learned of the story and told the tale to a Bulletin reporter that got the ball rolling toward reaching Santa at virtually the last minute.

The CHP was contacted and their office staff jumped into action.  Smith took on the shopping chore after his shift came to an end.  The office gals were there to wrap the presents the next morning and 20 minutes before the gifting event Officer Armando Montoya was pressed into action donning his red Santa suit.

After all the gifts were handed out,  both Santa and Officer Smith, along with the two elves, made the rounds of the small desks in the classroom,  talking with students about Christmas and plans for the big day ahead.

As Santa and his CHP helpers were leaving the classroom area, kindergartners spotted the jolly old man from the open door of a multi-purpose room calling out his name.  Santa took a short detour and talked with them briefly.

It is a heart and soul story that one second grader will probably take with him for the rest of his life.