By Stephanie Loder
The Bargaintown Volunteer Fire Company plans a Special Needs and Sensory Friendly visit with Santa Claus on Dec. 22 in Egg Harbor Township.
The special event is the brainchild of Bargaintown Fire Chief Eugene “Gene” Sharpe and his wife, Patty, a special needs teacher.
They said the event is in its 10th year at the firehouse in Egg Harbor Township, they said.
In the past decade, hundreds of children with special needs have visited the sensory-friendly event to take part in holiday activities they might normally not find anywhere else – like getting their picture taken with Santa in a room with no noise.
“We try to have it as calm as possible in the firehouse,” the chief said.
Patty Sharpe has been an educator for 40 years, spending 32 of those years teaching preschool in the Egg Harbor Township School District and working with inclusive special needs students.
Her husband, Gene Sharpe, a retired Ocean City police officer, often visits her classrooms to assist students during classroom events and Fire Prevention Month
The idea of having a Special Needs and Sensory Friendly Visit with Santa began with members of their own family, Patty said.
Their two daughters are each involved with special needs students.
Sarah-Ashley Sharpe works in the Galloway School system as a PSD (Program for Students with Disabilities) teacher.
Elizabeth Gipson is an occupational therapist at Atlantic County Special Services District in Mays Landing.
“We work with a limited number of volunteers, mostly our family,” Patty said.
The holiday event is a much-needed holiday afternoon for families with special needs children.
Many with special needs are often left out of Christmas because they can’t visit Santa Claus at the mall due to crowds. It’s also difficult for them to participate in other holiday-related events because of noise and distraction.
“People couldn’t go out for holiday events because their child was just overwhelmed at the mall or in public,” Patty said.
Patty said what makes the sensory-friendly event special is the quiet.
“The point is to have it as calm as possible, so kids don’t feel like they can’t go inside (the fire station) and so they don’t feel embarrassed,” Patty said.
During the first few years, Patty and Gene used only the kitchen area of the fire station.
As more children came each year, they expanded into the firetruck bays and they now use the entire firehouse for the event.
“In the beginning we just had Santa sitting in the corner. If a child came in, they could decide if they wanted to see him, and if not, that was fine too,” Patty said.
Patty and Gene added some model train sets to entice children who might be apprehensive about coming inside the fire station.
Tables with crafts are also set up in the bays.
“We pull the trucks out and put the crafts inside. The setup is extremely informal,” Gene said.
Children can also climb into a fire truck if they want.
“We have a firefighter on either side. If a child wants they can get help to climb in the truck and the firefighter on the other side helps them to get out safely,” he said.
“Kids love the firetrucks and we love giving back to the community,” he said. “It’s in the daytime, and the guys know what is going on when they do this and they keep the noise down.”
If a child doesn’t want to see Santa, there is no pressure.
“If they don’t want to go near Santa they can go to an area in the corner and have a book or go out and do crafts. We give them a lot of options,” Patty said.
In case firefighters need to respond to a fire, a fire truck is kept outside during the event to ensure children don’t get upset by noise.
The Egg Harbor Township Police Department will provide a table where parents can get an identification card for their child.
The event is free.
The fire company pays for the cost of the event, but donations to the fire company are accepted.
Volunteers are getting the word out about the special sensory Santa event through Facebook and through fliers that are sent home with students in school districts and at special services.
Last year, some group home members visited at the sensory event, Patty said.
She said others have come from as far away as Cherry Hill because there were no other sensory-friendly Santa events in their area.
“We try to keep it informal. We have a ton of crafts spread on a table and if that’s what a child wants to do, that’s fine. It’s a nice event and parents don’t have to worry. It gives them a little bit of calm,” Patty said.
Gene Sharpe said his firefighters are no strangers to working with children on fire calls.
“We’ve had training and anytime we go to houses with children, we carry teddy bears and we always have plastic fire hats with us to hand out. When we go to a fire call, kids are upset and it gives us a way to approach them. Most of our firefighters have kids at home themselves.”
“Our guys really care. They’re a good caring group,” the chief said.
The Sharpes said the event is rewarding.
“You get to see the children come in and they’re nervous at first, but by the time they go out, they have their snacks and crafts in hand, and you see them relax,” Patty said.
The chief said he’s encouraged every time he sees a special needs child finally get on Santa’s lap to pose for a picture.
“For some (special needs children), it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance. They come in and they don’t like to get near Santa, but we go out of our way, and in the end, they have their picture taken. It’s very rewarding,” said the chief, who also plays Santa for the special needs children.
The Special Needs and Sensory Friendly Visit with Santa will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Bargaintown Station #1, 6550 Mill Road, Bargaintown.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring their cameras to take pictures with Santa. Anyone with questions should visit the Bargaintown Volunteer Fire Company Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/@BargaintownFire to send a message.
Stephanie is a freelance writer with 40 years experience covering NJ news for The Asbury Park Press, The Courier Post, The Catholic Star Herald and The Press of AC. Email her at stephanieloder59@hotmail.com
