GRAND RAPIDS, Mich — While the Santa Claus Girls donations escaped the flames of Friday nights fire at the DeltaPlex, the smoke is another issue.
"All of the bags that we have out right now there's over 5000 children's gifts in those bags," said Santa Claus Girls President Tina Hudson. "Those are all contaminated. "
Because of the smoke, the organization will have to repackage over 5,000 gifts that have already been wrapped for families.
Those presents would have been given out during the Santa Claus Girls annual distribution on December 9th where volunteers pick up donated gifts and drop them off at homes across Kent County.
According to Hudson, in order for the current presents to be given to families, they would have to be repackaged. Something they say, there isn't enough time to do.
"The earliest that we would be able to even get in to that area would be Friday afternoon," said Hudson. "And, you know, this is Monday night."
To keep Christmas for their families going, they're looking for alternative options to support those that rely on them.
Right now, they need donations to help purchase gift cards for over 8,000 kids.
"That amount hasn't been determined quite yet," said Hudson. "Some of that will, will be determined by how many donations we receive over the next week."
"We're 114 years old, we're going to make it to 115," said Hudson. "And there's no stopping us."
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