In some neighborhoods, Santa is a volunteer kids see every day

Santa isn’t always a jolly old man in a red velvet suit. He doesn’t land on every rooftop in a gift-laden sleigh, driven by nine reindeer, one with a shiny red nose. In some neighborhoods, Santa has a more familiar face. He or she is the minister, the social worker, the police officer, the teacher and the community volunteers whom children interact with every day. At Christmastime, they play a dual role. The week before Christmas, volunteers were out in full force in North Lawndale on Chicago's West Side. They worked late into the night for days, preparing the community for an illuminating sho...