Instead of a sleigh, members of Beta Theta, a chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, packed their cars with gifts and headed to Minneola Place, an assisted living facility located at 301 South Main Avenue in Minneola, where the residents waited excitedly for their presents to be placed under the tree.
This is a Beta Theta tradition. Each year for decades, as the holiday approaches, the residents at the assisted living facility prepare their holiday wish lists. The lists are collected and sent to Santa’s Helpers (Beta Theta members). Every Beta Theta member selects the name of one of the residents and attempts to fulfill his/her wishes. The lists include a variety of wishes: art supplies, sweets, CDs, clothes, shoes, colognes. Some wishes are difficult to provide but Beta Theta members do their best. This project is heartwarming and gratifying, both Santa coordinators Donna Kidder and Jackie Ulch agree.
Beta Theta-Clermont was chartered in 1979 and has remained active in the community since. Due to the COVID pandemic, its signature fundraiser, the Mardi Gras Celebration, needed to be postponed. Toni Bell, the chapter’s president promises, “It will be back!”
