The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Jennifer Palmer Heart of the Holidays: Morgan Wilson smiles confidently after telling Santa exactly what she wants to see under the tree on Christmas morning. Santa Claus and Freckles join forces to raise money Photos with Santa help provide health care for children in need By Mary Spicuzza Freckles owners Jill Knickerbocker and Jennifer Palmer are definitely winning spaces on Santa Claus' "nice" list this year. Not only are the owners of Freckles, the Willow Glen children's clothing store, providing a warm spot for Santa to meet his fans, they're also donating all the proceeds from photo ops with Mr. Claus to a worthy organization. All the money raised by photos with Santa at Freckles will go to benefit the San Jose School Health Centers, a community project of The Health Trust, which provides free medical care for children in need. Usually a photo with Santa means a trip to the mall, a long wait in line and frenzied holiday shoppers laden with gifts. Freckles owners hope to provide a local spot where parents can bring their children, and the Freckles folks hope that their cozy Lincoln Avenue boutique can offer a less intimidating alternative to battling it out at the mall. "We've had such a positive response," Knickerbocker says. "People are relieved they don't have to stand in line and wait for an hour." Focused on more than just convenience, the driving force behind Santa's Lincoln Avenue landing site is good will during the holiday season. Freckles owners say they've committed themselves to giving back to the community since they first opened the boutique, which specializes in children's clothing, gifts and baby supplies. "We need to do things, no matter how big or small, to benefit the community," Knickerbocker says. "The main reason we chose to open our shop in Willow Glen is the strong sense of community here. We want to contribute to that." Shortly after opening the store on Oct. 1, they called Good Samaritan Hospital and heard about The Health Trust and its San Jose School Health Centers. The Health Trust is a nonprofit public organization working to improve health care for those in need throughout Santa Clara Valley. It operates the San Jose School Health Centers' nine licensed community clinics at schools throughout San Jose, as well as at the Franklin/McKinley School District office. At the clinics, a full staff of doctors, nurses, physicians' assistants, medical students and volunteers work to provide free health care to children and adolescents. The elementary school sites also offer free services to siblings of students. The goal of the clinics is to reduce the likelihood of extended illnesses while improving school attendance and building a quality educational experience. Because of the project, 25,000 school children in Santa Clara County who normally wouldn't have access to health care can now receive physical examinations, immunizations, medical tests and dental care. The program is supported by donations, grants, state funds, and by the Health Trust. Freckles has already held a successful fundraiser for the school health centers. With the support of T. Casey Construction, the store raffled a four-foot teddy bear to benefit the project. San Jose resident Lynne Owen won the bear on Dec. 1. The funds raised by the raffle and the help of Santa Claus will all go directly to the centers. Freckles owners are now busily planning fundraisers for the new year. "Owning a business is not just about us, it's about the community," Knickerbocker says. "It's the holiday season and people are looking for ways to share in the holiday spirit ... we're just hoping to do it throughout the year." Santa Claus will make his final appearance at Freckles on Saturday, Dec. 19, from noon to 2 p.m. To find out more about the San Jose School Health Centers, call 559-9385. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, December 16, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.