You got a small period of life with kids where magic is truly real. It seems like there is a larger and larger population of children every year that lose that. If I can give that magic back to a kid for a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, that means more to life than anything. It’s all for the kids.”

Tom Larson, owner of Reclaimed Tavern

The Stanley Community Center at Chapman Park was a busy place on Saturday, December 16th as Reclaimed Tavern in Stanley hosted a free ‘Meet Santa’ event from 4pm to 7pm. The free event showcased free cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and candy canes with presents available for the first two hundred children ages 13 and under. Families were lined up past the door and into the parking lot with laughter and smiles filling the air as children and their parents excitedly waited for their turn for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa’s elves and helpers were busy passing out presents and handing out delicious treats made by local community members. The Community Center was filled with colorful Christmas inflatables and even a life-sized sleigh, a perfect spot for taking family pictures. The event was sponsored with monetary donations from Reclaimed Tavern and local community donors. Tom Larson, Eau Claire resident and owner of Reclaimed Tavern, explained why hosting this event was so important.
“You got a small period of life with kids where magic is truly real. It seems like there is a larger and larger population of children every year that lose that. If I can give that magic back to a kid for a day, or a week, or a month, or a year, that means more to life than anything. It’s all for the kids. I’m not doing anything that anybody else wouldn’t do if they didn’t have the people behind them that I have right now. Anybody would do it,” he said.
He remarked that kids deserve a magical holiday, no matter their background.
“Kids are kids, and they deserve the best they can get. If we can show them that this world is a little better place, then down the road they also will make the world a better place.” Larson shared that 175 presents were distributed to children at the Meet Santa event.
“175 kids,” Larson said. “That’s 175 smiles. You can’t buy that with a million dollars.”
Larson, who also organizes the yearly Independence Day Celebration, commented on the support he’s received from Stanley community members at each of the events that he hosts. “The whole thing is about community, bringing people back together. I truly believe that people are still good. They just get blindsided by life,” he stated. Larson added that as the Meet Santa event was being organized more and more volunteers came to lend a hand from wrapping gifts, baking cookies, handing out gifts, decorating for the event, and donating money.
In the spirit of the holidays, Reclaimed Tavern once again sponsored a free Christmas dinner on December 25th at 3pm, that was open to anyone who needed a meal or just wanted some company. “It’s a full Christmas menu,” Larson said and mentioned that the meal included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls, and cookies.
“Holidays are tough for people who don’t have a lot of family left,” Larson said. “Anybody who doesn’t have a place to go, I put out food every year. It’s 100% free. We don’t care who you are, where you come from or why you’re there, just come in and say hi.”
He commented that there is no reason to be alone on a holiday. “Come down and spend time with my family. We’ll be your family for the day.”