The rhythm of life, for many, is kept in time with seasons and celebrations. Every year the song of the season reaches a crescendo from roughly December 14th through January 1st. The moment the holidays conclude, and we all accept the bittersweet acknowledgement, “Dang. Christmas is over,” it feels like moments later that we’re saying, “I can’t believe it’s December first.” At SCOUT HQ, Letters to Santa carry a meaningful and never-ending beat thanks to Deborah Waterman Johns, friends of SCOUT Bags, the greater DMV community, and beyond. The Santa Letters lore is deep and magical, and every year we share the tale.
You may be familiar with Letters to Santa if you’re an avid SCOUTed Blog reader (or a friend of Deb and Ben). I know you’re out there! When Deb migrated from Manhattan to Georgetown, she brought one of her favorite New York traditions to what some may consider “the south” also known as Washington, DC. Year after the year, children in underserved families dropped off their letters to Santa, and with the help of the NY postal service, community members were given the opportunity to provide gifts for these children and their families, bringing Santa’s magic to life.
The greater DMV Santa’s have been going strong for 26+ years. Today, Deb begins receiving faxed letters on the first day of school. From that point on, that fax machine does the lord’s work of cranking out hundreds of letters. Employees, neighbors, and friends of SCOUT Bags select their families and provide both “fun” and highly necessary gifts like Amazon, Target, and Safeway gift cards for parents, clothes and winter gear for the family members, and of course, sick toys and games.
Employees gather at HQ, sometimes it’s the morning after the Holiday Party, so pizza and other nourishment is provided to our feeble elves as they wrap, stuff, and ribbon the gifts inside our favorite product, like 4 Boys Bags and Deanos, both great products for quick moves and travel.
The wrapping and camaraderie heal the elves’ bodies and souls. These gifts are delivered to families at least a week before Christmas, so everything’s ready for show time the morning of the 25th. It’s real Christmas magic that is clearly inherited from the greatest city on earth.
It's 2025, and we did it, Joe. Our amazing families are ready for Santa, and we had an ornament exchange at the office to celebrate. It’s moments like these when time slows down, and everyone feels the “holiday spirit.” We hope you’ll join your community and participate in something truly good for others. Kindness and love are free, y’all. Be good to each other. Happy holidays.
