Yes. My friend Paul is Santa. A short story from a local publication. By the way, I met him though another friend 8 or so years back. After his physical transformation. He cycles everywhere and looks 20 years younger than he is.
Santa & Mrs. Claus, Paul & Mary Charbonneau
Paul and Mary Charbonneau love Christmas. They don’t just enjoy the holiday, though, they live it, transforming into Santa and Mrs. Claus each season.
Paul started playing Santa more than 45 years ago while still in high school at Rogers. He was the Bon Marché’s official Santa for several seasons. It was a natural inclination, coming from a large family and always being around a lot of children. Christmas was always a magical time for his family.
“I’ve always been a big kid and I look forward to being Santa all year,” says Paul, who, during the rest of the year, works for the city water department. “There’s a real responsibility to it. When I’m dressed as Santa Claus, I’m Santa all the time.”
There was a time, not long ago, when Paul didn’t need any extra padding to play Santa. He weighed close to 400 pounds, had health issues, and needed to replace both of his knees. He’s “skinny” now, and while he says it’s “not very Santa-like,” he stays in shape riding his bike and lifting weights.
The season always kicks off for Santa and Mrs. Claus the weekend after Thanksgiving with a “Santa Claws” fundraiser benefiting 30 different local nonprofit and animal rescues. It’s a cause close to their hearts, as Mary works closely with the Washington Basset Rescue, and the couple has two of the cute floppy-eared hounds of their own.
Santa and Mrs. Claus make stops around Spokane at charity events and nonprofit events bringing the Christmas spirit to kids of all ages. Often, before Santa arrives, Paul will ask the parents to have their children write Santa a letter. He’ll commit it to memory so that it’s pure magic when Santa knows everything about them, from where they go to school to their pet’s name and of course, what’s on their wish list. For one little girl it was all about a jar of pickles.
“It’s one of those rare situations where kids really just engage, their eyes light up, they start talking and they’re involved in the moment,” Mary says. “It’s a part of childhood that is being lost faster and faster.
“When people are around Santa and Mrs. Claus, they’re in the holiday spirit and having a good time.”
The final stop for Santa and Mrs. Claus each season is Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital where they visit with young patients facing every kind of health crisis you can imagine. Those are times that really tug at their hearts.
“We’ve had children ask for a new kidney or to be put on the transplant list. But often they’re not asking for things for themselves,” Mary says. “It makes you realize how blessed you are, when a five or six year old tells Santa that their family is ‘really worried about me,’ and could he please help them to not be so stressed out and be able to get a little more sleep.”
In the true spirit of the season, the Charbonneaus donate any funds they generate to local charities. “It’s really something that we do to serve our community and give back during the holidays,” Mary says. “We really love helping create Christmas memories, and playing Santa and Mrs. Claus really makes our holidays merry and bright.”
“I feel fortunate that I’m in a position to do this,” Paul says. “It’s hard to describe the fun—it really makes you feel great.”