Like many communities during COVID, they talked about how no one was in Christmas mode and because of health regulations, there wasn’t much anyone could do. This year, Raymore had to cancel their regular ‘Step into Christmas’ program. The program normally held at the town pavilion, the town and surrounding community would gather to enjoy horse and carriage rides, a wiener roast and visiting with friends and neighbours. It has been a community event that they all looked forward to, so it was easy to feel down.
And just like that, as the Christmas spirit has been known to do, like magic, the idea took hold. It began through a series of phone calls, word of mouth and social media, an event that Mayor Koncz describes as a COVID Christmas turned into a Christmas miracle.
The Fazakas’ donated candy bags and the Last Mountain Co-op the oranges. Koncz reached out to Dale Mantyka from Young’s Equipment, who offered a truck and trailer for a float. Young’s staff immediately went all in, stepping up to decorate the float. Koncz added his professional DJ equipment, another a porcelain snowman, and the town lent the Christmas tree that sits at the end of Main Street. Another added lights and straw bales for the elves to sit. The Elk’s added the finishing touch by lending Santa his grand chair.
While the day started blustery, the evening was warm for mid-December at -3. The wind calmed down just enough as the Raymore Fire Department led the way, followed by the lighted float - Christmas music filling the air, elves at the ready and the big man himself, Santa Claus.
Koncz noted that COVID had been extra hard on seniors; he found the excitement at the senior’s homes really brought the cheer to so many.
The first stop was Silver Heights Special Care Home, where the residents watched the procession through the windows. The elves gleefully delivered goody bags to the doorstep, which the staff collected before the train of cheer made its way to the Raymore Lodge and Raymore Manor senior’s homes. The tenants on the east side watched happily from their windows while the tenants from the west watched from the common area.
Chairperson of the housing board, Joyce Lorenz, said, “They thought it was great. They think it’s great, anything we do for them right now because they’re so shut-in.”
As Santa and the procession made its way through the streets, children happily came out of their homes, gathering up the treat bags the masked elves sat carefully on the ground for them to pick up. “The kids walked beside the trailer for a bit. There were so many smiles,” said Koncz.
Resident Rita Morrow followed the procession, driving around taking photos of the event from a safe distance. “It was awesome; it was truly awesome. I think it brought cheer and anticipation, not only for the little people but for all of us. It was something that the community didn’t know they needed, but they did need it. Just to bring out the fun and the laughter, I can’t say enough about it. The people that got together and put it together, hats off to them.”
Morrow said considering the event was put together in less than a week, it was very well attended. People from outside Raymore watched from the safety of their vehicles lining up along Main Street.
“I’m sure they brought joy to the nursing home. They are locked in there; they, for sure, need it.” Joyce said, as she used to work at the nursing home, “so I know what it’s like when they can’t see their families. It’s very hard for them.” She added, “It’s hard for all of us. We are so proud of our community, and I think that’s why it’s successful because people really do care.”
Mayor Koncz summarized the feeling we all get at Christmas when we give to the people around us - “That night when we were done you just knew you did a good deed in giving back to the community and the residents, it was unbelievable...it was a good feeling.”
Jennifer Argue, LMT