Santa Claus visits excited crowd at Exceptional Foundation
Santa Claus and his motorcycle escorts from the Homewood Police Department were a big hit when they arrived at The Exceptional Foundation gymnasium for their annual holiday visit on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 13.
About 150 Foundation participants, staff members and other visitors cheered loudly as several Homewood motorcycle officers rode directly into the gymnasium from the main entrance, and Santa entered behind them riding a police department golf cart.
Santa was greeted with hugs before taking his place onstage, where he chatted individually with each of the participants and listened to their Christmas gift wishes.
One of those participants, Jordan Blackmon, said she and her friends were looking forward to seeing Santa Claus.
“I’m excited to see him and tell him what I want for Christmas,” she said.
Some movies, headphones and new shoes were on Blackmon's wish list, she said.
The visits from Santa and the Homewood Police Department began around a decade ago, according to Tricia Kirk, the Foundation’s executive director.
“The fun part is that the Homewood Police could not believe that I asked them to come inside the building and ride across my gym on their motorcycles,” she said, laughing. “They said that was a very uncommon request, but I thought it was a very logical request, because it sounds like more fun.”
The students and staff get very excited about the visit well in advance, Kirk said.
“We probably build up to this for 364 days,” she said. “It’s a buildup of excitement and joy. During this whole holiday season, it is about believing – believing in something bigger than yourself and believing in giving and what you can do for other people. What is Santa Claus? He is something you believe in that is going to bring you joy.”
The Foundation participants and staff also enjoy the police motorcycles.
“Oh, the motorcycles are great fun,” Kirk said. “They go through the building, and the scream and the uproar, you can feel the building shaking just as they come in. It’s a real experience.”
Blackmon, who graduated from Corner High School in 2013, has also been part of a group of about 10 participants who have sung Christmas carols at more than 30 area businesses over the last two weeks.
“I like singing in front of people and spreading Christmas with everyone to hear it and just telling them what Christmas is really about,” she said.
Her favorite song for caroling is “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” she said.
A group of participants was scheduled to go caroling at some area businesses following Santa’s visit, according to Kirk.
The Exceptional Foundation, a nonprofit, was established in 1993 to serve mentally and physically challenged individuals in the Birmingham area by providing them with social and recreational opportunities not available in the community or at educational institutions.