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Opening her home and heart ‘Crazy Santa Lady’ keeps the holiday spirit all season long By Sam Sciarrotta
What started as a promotional tool turned into a reputation as the “Crazy Santa Lady” for Desiree Daniels. Fifteen years ago, DanONE Project NJ board members Danielle Liegl, Lauren Beaver, Stacey Kierman, Rajnarind Kaur iels, a realtor, was looking for a way to make connections and Indy Samra helped pack 10,000 meals for the food insecture this fall. within the Robbinsville community. She didn’t have children of her own at the time, and she felt that she was missing out on meeting parents through traditional means, like recreational sports and meals were packed separately. education and volunteerism,” school events—personally Local nonprofits “It’s an event that we are and professionally. So she wrote board member Danielle adapt to provide Liegl. “In other words, to work really proud of,” said ONE looked to something that had as ONE to make a difference.” Project chairwoman Stacey always been important to her: during pandemic This year, though, things Kierman. “We were certainly Christmas. obviously had to change. disappointed to not be able to Daniels started inviting The Hunger Project was can- host the Hunger Project this guests into her Robbinsville By RoB ANthes, Joe EmaNski celled, until the organization year due to COVID, so we piv- home through an open house aNd Sam Sciarrotta our thinking to continue recalibrated and decided to and appeared Santa meet-and-greet Oneoted morning, a message writtentoin chalk ONE Project knows a thing reschedule—with some pan- make an impact on the commu- event. She was already somein front of an RWJBarnabas Health facility. The words one who loved decorating for or two about massive volun- demic-appropriate guidelines. nity during this difficult time.” couldn’t have been more stirring, Liegl said ONEsimpler, Projectorwas Starting in October, 20 thesoul holidays—inviting strangteer events. Every summer, or more ableaccurate. to keep busy throughout ers and Santa Claus into her the organization hosts the ONE Project volunteers got Hunger Project event, where together on a handful of Sat- the pandemic with other ini- home seemed like a logical 2,000 people gather at Rob- urdays to safely pack meals in tiatives as lockdown pressed step. “It started out just in Robbinsville High School to pack a masked, socially distant set- on. Volunteers worked “Heroes with binsville through direct mailmeals for the food insecure— ting at Firkin Tavern in Ewing. the Sikh Sabha Neighborhood work here.” the event typically yields The program, dubbed “ONE Langar in Lawrence and the ing for a year or two,” she 150,000 meals packed and Firkin Meal at a Time,” will Rolling Harvest Food Rescue said. “It just shot from there. in Titusville. They also helped Now, we’re to the point where have netted over 10,000 meals ready to go in four hours. Three words of gratitude and encouragement that “This event neatly embod- by December. The final meal pack meals and craft no-sew we’ve opened it up with social capture the courage and compassion of health blankets with the Rotary Club media. It started with just past ies both the mission and packing event of the year was workers here and across America. To shareand your of Robbinsville Hamilton and clients customers, and vision of ONE Project to scheduled for Dec. 5, but was thanks to support Emergency Response Be or Kind, the Joyour of Giving. it’s just Fund, gotten crazier and bring people of different back- canceled at the end of Novem“After these wonderful expe- crazier.” grounds and faiths together to ber due to COVID-19 restricvisit rwjbh.org/heroes Daniels holds the event address social needs through tions. The remaining 2,500 See NONPROFITS, Page 10
The season of giving
Their courage and compassion inspire us all.
every November so that families can get their photos with Santa in time to send out holiday cards. She said she normally sees 400 to 500 people coming through during the set time slot. “That sounds insane, but it really is organized chaos,” she said. “Most people know how it funnels. It flows smoothly. We have it down to a science. The event, she said, is really more of a party. Santa and other holiday friends— like the Grinch—pop up. Massimo’s donates pizzas. Balloon artists, juice and snacks are on-hand for the kids. “People hang around, which is nice,” she said. “That’s why I think it’s so successful. It’s more warm and fuzzy than just going to a mall Santa. People are there and they’re seeing their friends.” This year, though, Daniels obviously had to make some alterations. The event was appointment only for the first time ever—it was held outside, and guests stayed socially distant and adhered to no-contact guidelines. Instead of sitting on Santa’s lap, families posed in front of a sleigh on Daniels’s lawn. The setup also included fake snow and wrapped gifts. That doesn’t mean the day wasn’t up to Daniels’s usual standards. She and her family—husband Albert Sodaro and their eight-year-old sons Charlie and Frankie—were more excited than ever to celebrate the holidays a little See DANIELS, Page 8
And please, for them, stay home and safe.
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