2024 Ho Ho Express reportedly sees another joyous excursion

 Friday, Dec. 20, a magical event took place. Kids from Weiser were able to get something that many of them would not have gotten otherwise: the magic of Christmas. All of this is thanks to Ho Ho Express.

 Founded over 40 years ago by one of Santa’s helpers, Joe Malay, Ho Ho Express is a gift to the Weiser community that takes kids from less fortunate families to Walmart in Ontario. They are gifted $50 each to spend their hearts’ content on.

 The event first started with the kids shopping around Weiser and with Malay only able to help out a few kids, but thanks to the fundraising done by Malay and the pride Weiser has in its kids, the event grew to now today helping out 250 kids for this Christmas season.

 To help out each year, Weiser High School students help with the kids and guide them around shopping with them.  This year, I also participated in the event.

 It began in the early morning at 7 a.m. and after getting everything ready, we were loaded onto the busses where the kids would choose which of us they wanted to be guided by.

 This year I had the honor of chaperoning two kids.

 On the way, the volunteers including myself made an effort to get to know the kids and make sure that they can do everything they can to make their day as incredible as possible.

 My kids both played sports and videogames so I was able to share my personal experiences with them and get to know them.

 Eventually, we arrived at Walmart where I saw something beautiful happen. If I were a kid here, to be completely honest, I think I would only really buy a gift for myself and I’m sure many others would do the same. I mean the whole event is there for the kids to get gifts.

 However, many if not all the kids, didn’t see it as presents for them, but for everyone they loved in their life. Sure they still got things for themselves but they also got gifts for their friends, family, and heck even one of my kids gave me a gift for being kind to him.

 At first, I was apprehensive about accepting this gift but then I remembered that that is what Christmas is truly about,

 Sure we all want something for Christmas, heck we all have things we expect to get for Christmas, but to me, the gifts that are total surprises are the ones that mean the most, the ones I may have not necessarily even thought of as something I wished for but the ones I hold dear the most.

 The other thing was that the kids were extremely kind and caring. Not once did I see nor hear a kid complain. All I heard that day was the joyous laughter and excitement coming from every kid in that store. 

 On the bus ride home, it’s clear that the kids sadly don’t get gifts every day. They will open every single thing. They would play with cards, swordfight with candy canes, race Hot Wheels and eat delicious if a bit unhealthy candies.

 However, the fact that this wasn’t every day for them made it special. Many of those kids would only get gifts on this day which truly breaks my heart. However thanks to Malay and his excellent program, Christmas isn’t just reserved for the wealthy, but for those who truly deserve its magic.

 Christmas is for everyone, and that is why Ho Ho Express is so important to the community of Weiser. As the future of Ho Ho Express is bright, so is the future of the children of this town we call home.