Santa Clothes Club Member Shares How Club Once Helped Him
By: Casie Mason
Updated: December 4, 2012
The annual Santa Clothes Club telethon wraps up another year. The event brought in around $230,000, all going to help clothe children in the Tri-State area. Today's event is one that we at Eyewitness News hold dear to our hearts, but for one local man the Santa Clothes Club holds an even closer meaning of hope.
The calls poured in as many of our familiar faces and others spent their Sunday collecting donations for the annual Santa Clothes Telethon. "You know how much they're enjoying getting the new clothes. Its just really a labor of love," says Dan Felker. A labor of love that requires hundreds of man hours and a big heart for needy kids.
Through the six hour telethon, we met those who gave and those who will benefit. Behind the scenes, we heard their stories. Dan Felker says he knows what its like to be on both ends of the phone. "Its just real dear to me. As a little boy I got clothes from the Santa Clothes Club. We just came on hard times and the Santa Clothes Club was there to pick me up and help me."
He remembers a time in his life when he needed the organization's help. Now several years later he is a board member of the organization and dedicates his life to giving back in the way others gave to him. "As time went on and I was able to help out, I started to help as I could. All the people at work started understanding what I was doing and getting involved with me, and its kind of blossomed into now."
Today Felker and his company donated $20,000 to help kids once like him, once needing a helping hand. "It was just a great feeling to put on new clothes, go to school, and kind of be like the other kids. I never forgot that feeling. Its very special."
Felker's work place, Sterling Boiler and Mechanical, have already began planning their annual golf outing that helps raise money for the donation they give Santa Clothes Club every year. This years outing will be in August at Cambridge if you would like to join.
The calls poured in as many of our familiar faces and others spent their Sunday collecting donations for the annual Santa Clothes Telethon. "You know how much they're enjoying getting the new clothes. Its just really a labor of love," says Dan Felker. A labor of love that requires hundreds of man hours and a big heart for needy kids.
Through the six hour telethon, we met those who gave and those who will benefit. Behind the scenes, we heard their stories. Dan Felker says he knows what its like to be on both ends of the phone. "Its just real dear to me. As a little boy I got clothes from the Santa Clothes Club. We just came on hard times and the Santa Clothes Club was there to pick me up and help me."
He remembers a time in his life when he needed the organization's help. Now several years later he is a board member of the organization and dedicates his life to giving back in the way others gave to him. "As time went on and I was able to help out, I started to help as I could. All the people at work started understanding what I was doing and getting involved with me, and its kind of blossomed into now."
Today Felker and his company donated $20,000 to help kids once like him, once needing a helping hand. "It was just a great feeling to put on new clothes, go to school, and kind of be like the other kids. I never forgot that feeling. Its very special."
Felker's work place, Sterling Boiler and Mechanical, have already began planning their annual golf outing that helps raise money for the donation they give Santa Clothes Club every year. This years outing will be in August at Cambridge if you would like to join.
