Tangents by John Saccenti:Monroe councilman aides Santa in toy delivery department.
By:John Saccenti
Traveling around the world in one night? Delivering toys to every good boy and girl?
Sounds daunting, doesn’t it?
But for a man like Santa Claus, it’s old hat, and in just a few days, he’ll be making his rounds again with a sack full of toys and a list of the nice kids he needs to visit.
For years Santa Claus has been known for his generosity during the holidays, dutifully delivering toys to boys and girls lucky enough to make his good list.
And for years these toys have been made at his workshop at the North Pole, long rumored to be a state-of-the-art facility employing the most creative elves in the world.
But as sometimes happens, even Santa needs help. Enter Monroe Councilman John Riggs, who as manufacturers representative for Maximize Sales and Marketing in Monroe does daily business with such toy companies as Friendly Toys, makers of tricycles and outdoor playsets; Masterpieces Puzzles; and Funline toys, makers of the Muscle Machine line of Jesse James customized toy motorcycles.
Every year, Santa places a call to Mr. Riggs, who as a fully deputized Santa Helper, makes sure local organizations such as the Rossmoor Kiwanis and the Lion of Judah Church in Jamesburg, get the toys they need to make sure area children have a bright, happy Christmas.
It’s a task Mr. Riggs is only too happy to take on.
"He asked me to help the Kiwanis, Lion of Judah. I usually end up taking vans full of stuff out for kids," Mr. Riggs said.
But it doesn’t stop there. Mr. Riggs said that hot toys, like this year’s Jesse James motorcycles, are often scarce, and with Santa’s North Pole factory working overtime during the holidays, Mr. Riggs is often called upon to strike a deal with Mr. Claus to get what he needs.
According to a highly placed source in the North Pole, Santa makes sure that every toy not made at his private factory is injected with a handful of Christmas Dust. That is the only way, the source said, to guarantee that every toy delivered this year has that sought after Christmas Magic, long a traditional ingredient in Santa’s offerings.
After years of helping out during the holidays, Mr. Riggs and Santa have struck a special relationship that extends beyond the holidays. Being an expert on toys, and having a personal knowledge of what almost every child wants to play with, Santa has been asked by the companies Mr. Riggs represents for input on how to make toys children love.
"Santa and I are very good friends. He works with us when we go to Hong Kong in January when we decide what to make for next year," Mr. Riggs said.
Santa’s relationship with the area seems to be a match made in heaven, and, one destined to continue for years to come.
"He’s got so many kids to deliver to now that he needs help," said Mr. Riggs.
John Saccenti is news editor of The Cranbury Press. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].