GREAT HARBOR CAY, Bahamas (WSVN) — Santa made a special delivery to some kids in the Bahamas before Christmas, Tuesday, making this holiday one to remember.
Children who were living in communities that were hit by hurricanes got a special visit for Saint Nick. They sang Christmas songs as he ditched his sleigh and arrived at the airport in a seaplane.
The group of kids waited all year for his visit and Tropic Ocean Airways founder Rob Ceravolo said he looks forward to making this possible. “Every year we do this,” he said. “You know, the children really enjoy watching Santa Claus get out of an airplane, and we get to see the smiles on their faces.”
Ceravolo’s plane was one of the first to help with relief efforts after Hurricane Matthew blew through the Bahamas and left so many in destruction.
In Great Harbor Cay, the community considers themselves lucky since Matthew mostly missed them.
About 150 elementary school students lined up to speak with Santa and Mrs. Claus and tell them their Christmas wish before leaving with a gift.
For Santa, the trip is all about the smiling faces. The older students still remember what is was like to meet Santa at the end of the year. “It’s presents, being able to have a good time, you know, spread some cheer,” said student Jason McAuley.
The gifts were collected over the past few months by students from Cardinal Gibbons High School. “When we came here on the plane and saw all the kids’ faces, even when they’re getting happy about something as simple as the that, it just makes it all worth it,” Cardinal Gibbons High School senior Joe Maguire said.
Seaplanes aren’t an uncommon sight for these kids on the tropical island, but ones that carry Mr. and Mrs. Claus is a once a year deal that they’ll look forward to again.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.