In 2000, Bob Syverson found himself at the door of a quiet Coronado home, dressed in a plush red suit, clutching a gift.
He knocked on the door. A young woman answered.
“Merry Christmas!” Syverson said, before stating the name of the gift’s intended recipient.
The woman smiled. “That’s me,” she said, accepting the colorfully wrapped package. “My mom used to send me a gift from Santa, until last year when she passed away.”
That moment, Syverson recalls, crystallized something about the Coronado Rotary Santa Program. The woman had sent herself the gift in remembrance of her mom.
“It’s the kind of tradition that doesn’t stop just because the child is 15 or 16,” he said. “Parents want their kids to be kids forever. And Santa is one of the times they, too, can be kids.”
Now in its 95th year, the program stands as a testament to belief — both in Santa Claus and the community.
Run entirely by volunteers, the initiative delivers hundreds of gifts every Christmas Eve, reaching everyone from infants to seniors.
This year, the club plans on delivering over 375 gifts.
It’s a festive machine of goodwill, starting with presents dropped off at the Chase Bank on Orange Avenue and culminating on Christmas Eve at the Coronado Fire Station, where 15 “Santas,” 15 “reindeer” (drivers) and 15 “elves” suit up for their routes.
From 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., the volunteers fan out across Coronado Village, Coronado Cays the Amphibious Base on North Island.
Families label each package with the recipient’s name and address.
Volunteers, some of whom have participated for over 20 years, sort the packages into routes, some even delivering to the children of their high school classmates decades later.
Syverson, who started as the program’s chairman in 1991, now co-leads with Rotarians Tim Hodges and Debby Syverson. Together, they have over 60 years of experience with the program.
“We’re the only Rotary Club in the world that does this,” Syverson said.
As the Santas arrive at homes, they often call ahead to give families the option to orchestrate the moment — whether it’s a child eagerly answering the door or a parent savoring the surprise.
The visits, lasting just a few minutes, are brimming with genuine joy.
“We’ve delivered gifts to everyone from toddlers mesmerized by the big red suit to 80-year-olds reminded that Santa never forgets,” Syverson said.
One memorable year, a Santa brushed up on Ukrainian to wish a newly-arrived 7-year-old refugee a Merry Christmas in her native language.
“Moments like that remind us why we do this,” he said.
Coronado’s military roots add a poignant layer to the program. Many families worry Santa might not find them after a recent move.
Syverson recalls one sailor rushing to deliver a last-minute package for his children staying at a local hotel. A Santa, who had returned to the fire station to retrieve forgotten candy canes, made the special delivery.
“It’s a time when everyone can believe in Santa Claus for an hour,” Syverson said.
The program starts planning months in advance. After Christmas, the team meets to debrief and refine the process for the following year.
For Syverson and his fellow Santas, the program isn’t just about giving gifts; it’s about creating moments of pure joy.
“People think we do it for the kids, and we do,” he said. “But it also does something for us. It’s a gift to ourselves.”
Gift drop-off will be open at Chase Bank, 1000 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, from Wednesday, Dec. 18, through Saturday, Dec. 21.
