Annex students go shopping with Santa

Students from Annex School were all smiles as they arrived at the Weiser Bi-Mart on Dec. 21 and were greeted by an entourage from Santa Joe’s Ho Ho Express. 

 Two school buses pulled into the parking lot with a Weiser Police Department escort. Volunteer firemen with the Weiser City Fire and Rescue also joined in the event.

 After a group photo, the kids spent about a half-hour shopping for Christmas presents. Each student received $50 to spend.

 They were divided into groups of three and went up and down the aisles with helpers from Select Properties of Weiser, volunteer firemen from Weiser City Fire and Rescue, Annex teachers and others.  

 The sole sponsor for the Ho Ho Express shopping trip for Annex kids is Select Properties in Weiser. All the sales agents participate by contributing to the Christmas program. 

 They also serve as helpers for the kids during their shopping trip, keeping track of the finances.

 Select Properties owner Rod Panike and Santa Joe expanded the Ho Ho Express to include all the students at Annex School right across the Snake River in Malheur County. 

 Both Panike and Santa Joe went to school on the Oregon side in Annex and have a personal connection. 

 “It’s a lot of fun. They get excited,” Panike said, helping kids pick out toys. “It’s just fun to watch them. They are happy and laughing.”

 Annex principal Steve Bishop made the bus trip to Bi-Mart in Weiser with the students, who ranged in age from five to the eighth grade. 

 The 92 students who got to go shopping this year was the largest group ever, he said.

 “This is really great. There have been a lot of  folks who contributed and we’re grateful for that,” Bishop said. 

 Santa Joe said he’s always taken a few Annex kids on the Ho Ho Express in the 20 years he’s been doing it. 

 Six years ago, with the financial support of Select Properties, the event was expanded to include all of the Annex students. 

 It takes many donations to fund Santa Joe’s Ho Ho Express every December, which benefits about 400 local kids in total.

 Between the two Ho Ho Express shopping trips, one for the Annex students to Bi-Mart and the other for Weiser students going to Wal-Mart in Ontario, Ore., it costs about $20,000 each year.

 On Saturday, Santa Joe and the Ho Ho Express took 250 Weiser students and high school elf helpers to Walmart in Ontario to shop for gifts. Just like the Annex kids, each student received $50 to spend however they wish. 

 Malay said he relies on donations year around to make it happen. There is a Ho Ho Express account set up at Zions Bank in Weiser for anyone who would like to donate any amount.

 As Santa Joe says, “any donation large or small. We appreciate it all.”