letters20p "Thank you Santa," Nevaeh Squire, 6, center, said as she hugged Santa Claus. "You're the best." About 60 children received presents from Santa Claus Friday, December 19, 2014, at Birmingham Elementary in East Toledo. This is the fourth year of the Letters to Santa Event, organized by special education teacher Melody Basta. Children in first grade wrote letters to Santa Claus back in early November and Ms. Basta distributed them to her family and friends who then purchased gifts for the children and wrote back as Santa. On Friday, Santa Claus was on hand to distribute the gifts to the children. "This is my favorite day of the year," Ms. Basta said. "They ask for the simplest things. I've had kids ask for beds because they're sleeping on the floor at home. One child asked for a pillow." After opening their presents, several of the children got up on their own to thank Santa Claus, with a few offering him candy from their own gifts. THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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