The recession that saved Christmas

“There’s a lot of bad ’isms floatin’ around this world, but one of the worst is commercialism…Don’t care what Christmas stands for, just make a buck, make a buck.”

— Alfred, the janitor, Macy’s Department Store, Miracle on 34th Street

After his talk, Ben handed out the annual bonuses. A worker gave his back to help the children in one of his charities. One thing led to another, and Ben and his partner and brother Willie Sawatzky agreed to match from their personal finances any donations the workers made. Now, each December, many on staff make voluntarily payroll deductions. Last year’s combined total: $203,000.

Staff and management now support 138 African orphans. As tough as times are, says Josh, “You can’t just stop sponsoring someone.” Spruceland is also midway through a three-year commitment to build 200 houses for Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic. The company ships containers of wood to the site. And twice a year, a 14-member team of Spruceland workers arrives to help build the houses. The volunteers use a week of vacation and take a week of unpaid leave. Travel and accommodation costs are split between the owners and the workers. They come back with their eyes opened, says Josh. “It’s a grind right now,” he says. “But you get people thinking, ‘We’re not doing too bad. We’ve got a pretty good situation here.’”

Even with global markets in tatters, Spruceland directed its generosity toward its staff. They celebrated Christmas early this November by sending 308 people—workers and their families—on an all-expense-paid week in Bucerias, Mexico. They held their staff party by the water, complete with Mexican-spiced turkey, dancers, and fireworks. This year’s event almost certainly wouldn’t have happened on this epic scale if not for a ruling forcing the return of some of the softwood lumber tariff Spruceland paid into the U.S. Ben and Willie decided the party was a way to share the windfall with those who got them through the protracted tariff wars.

Spruceland’s generosity is exceptional, but not unique. Many businesses take charities under their wings. One such beneficiary is Toronto’s Yonge Street Mission, which helps the working poor and homeless. It has several corporate angels this season as well as a 15 per cent surge in individual donations, says Barbara Walkden, director of development. Nike Canada, which last year sent 70 employees to volunteer, will add another 35 this season. KPMG staff are also pitching in. There’s a recognition the need is greater this season, Walkden says. “A lot of people think, ‘There for the grace of God. It could be a lot worse for me.’ ” Volunteerism is up, too. “We can’t host as many people as would like to serve meals,” she says. “It’s amazing.”

“Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.”

—Kris Kringle, Miracle on 34th Street

The red velvet dress given to Audrey Freeman’s daughter has long been outgrown, and her parents have passed on, but the years haven’t dimmed the memory of the best-ever Christmas. If anything it has become burnished with time, and the retelling of it, into a fine warm glow. Now, the little girl in that dress is the one hosting the clan Christmas dinner. “She’s taking over from Mom,” Audrey says with pride. “She’s making her own traditions. As long as they’re all together that’s what’s important to me.” And if one of the kids has created a painting for the Freeman’s new home in Carmanville, well, that will also be worth a tear or two.

Lessons were learned all those years ago, and they have been applied in good times and bad. It wasn’t the dress or the money or the goodies, as welcome as they were, that saved the Christmas of ’64. What spilled out of the trunk that morning was the certainty they were loved.