The Christmas spirit starts to hit Larry Hewitt each September.
That’s when the director of student services in the College of Nursing starts growing the beard he needs for his seasonal gig in December.
Almost every year for roughly the past decade, Hewitt has grown the white beard to go along with the red suit he wears as he attends various campus gatherings as the jolly old elf.
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“But one little girl who I would see every year looked at her mother and said I wasn’t the real Santa because my beard wasn’t real,” Hewitt said. “I couldn’t have that happen again so I’ve grown the beard every year since.”
He first dressed up as Santa about nine years ago for a holiday party for UNMC nursing students. He was a hit at that party and was then asked to come as Santa to the nursing faculty party. He’s been invited back every year since.
Faculty and staff bring their children to the party each year to see Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas.
“I’m the only Santa some of these kids have known,” Hewitt said.
About five years ago, Hewitt started paying visits to children being treated at The Nebraska Medical Center. Last year, hospital staff recruited Hewitt to help a group of U.S. Marines with their annual Toys for Tots drop off.
As part of that gig, Hewitt – dressed as Santa Claus of course – and a group of Marines land at the hospital in a helicopter and come bearing gifts for the children who are dealing with medical issues including cancer and transplantation.
After meeting with children who are well enough to come see him, Hewitt then visits the rooms of children who aren’t.
Visiting with the children in the hospital is, at once, the most rewarding and difficult aspects of playing Santa Claus, Hewitt said.
“Kids are very honest and sometimes they ask for things that Santa can’t give them,” Hewitt said. “It can be kind of a struggle at times.”
But a worthwhile struggle, Hewitt said, as the Santa gig annually brings him a lot of good feelings.
Hewitt takes his Santa role seriously, too. He keeps track of the latest toys “in the offseason” by going on what he calls “Toys R’ Us” education missions and chatting with children there about what they think is cool.
Knowing what toys are in style allows him to appear all the more real to the children each year. And appearing real, Hewitt said, goes a long way toward keeping the magic of the holiday season alive.
“It shows I care and that’s the biggest gift I can give,” he said. “Given the world these kids have got to grow up in, it’s important that people show them that they care. It makes the world a better place.”