It was only a few years, in some cases just a few months, that they had never heard “White Christmas”, much less knew what it was like…and many had no idea who Santa Claus was either.
But here they were, lining up to see the jolly old man in the red suit, just like the rest of us.
The learning curve is steep when war, poverty, or political divisions—and sometimes all three—send refugees to the United States of America, but nothing helps flatten that curve like Christmas.
Every year since 2013 (with the exception of the COVID-19 years), this has been confirmed at the Gathering of Light celebration, a party organized by the Utah Refugee Connection to help those who have been resettled here get into the holiday spirit, and see how America does Christmas.
Approximately 2,000 attended this year’s celebration, which was held last Saturday at Lincoln Elementary School. Newly minted American residents from the Far East, the Near East, the Middle East, South America, Central America, the African continent, and all points in between began showing up just before the official 3 p.m. late as more than 100 volunteer guides helped ease cultural and language barriers.
Gift-dropping stations were spread across the school’s gymnasium floor. In one corner, the youngest children were given stuffed animals; in another corner, teens received headphones and sweatshirts with the slogan “Utah You Belong Here.” At the family gift table, warm blankets and solar panels were given to the adults.
Other stations offered face painting and crafts and Krispy Kreme donuts and photos with Elsa, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Snow White. They all had long lines.
But the longest line by far was to see Santa Claus.
Greeting children, young and old, was Milton Collins, a duly delegated and licensed Santa from the North Pole.
Collins has volunteered to be Santa ever since he learned the first celebration would be held at Lincoln Elementary School, where he is also the school’s principal.
Few understand what refugees are going through better than the principal of a school where more than a third of his students are refugees.
A school where you can walk down the hall, he says, “and hear 24 different languages.”
And while it is true that these immigrants have been given a great gift to find themselves in a safe land where they are free from oppression, it is also true that they are a long way from home.
“I love to see them happy; I love seeing them smile,” says Collins.
Naturally, some of the children passing through the line recognize him.
“They know me. They say, ‘huh?’”
“I just tell them, ‘I’m Mr. Collins on Monday; Today, I’m Mr. Santa.’”
Standing off to the side, watching a black man from Mississippi pose for photos with children of all colors sitting on his knees, hailing from Afghanistan, the Ukraine, Somalia and who knows where else, a hijab-wearing woman from Sudan named Zinab Adam. watch the scene and smile.
“He’s a very nice man,” she observes.
Are you referring to Collins or Santa? they ask.
Another smile.
“Children,” she says, “can believe.”
Zinab is here as a volunteer, helping wherever she is needed. Seven years ago she attended her first Gathering of Light event shortly after arriving in Utah. Four years ago she decided that she wanted to move from receiving to giving.
“I have received a lot from this city and I have to do something to be thankful for,” he explains.
And so goes the all-inclusive party that has become a Salt Lake tradition.
Many people step up and give to make it an annual success, says Amy Dott Harmer, executive director of the all-volunteer Utah Refugee Connection. Some $70,000 in donations came this year from sponsors including Ken Garff Automotive Group, Utah Jazz, Granite School District, Minky Couture and other companies. That’s on top of the hundreds of hours volunteers provide.
Everything so that newcomers who have had to flee very harsh conditions, through no fault of their own, feel loved and get something in return.
“Refugees are some of the unluckiest people I know,” says Harmer, who cites a quote from writer Michael Lewis to sum up how he feels and why events like Gathering of Light are important and necessary:
“Above all, recognize that if you have been successful, you have also been lucky, and with luck comes obligation. You owe a debt, and not just to your gods. You owe a debt to the unfortunate.
