YMCA celebrates Christmas in July
As Christmas carols played in the background, Santa and Mrs. Claus brought holiday cheer to the Sussex Family YMCA in Rehoboth Beach.
They came down from the North Pole July 14 for the Y’s Christmas in July fundraiser.
“We invite Santa to come see the kids, and we’re encouraging people to help make summer magical by donating to some of our programs,” said Shay Almond, membership director.
Almond said the donations support Live Strong, the teen workforce program, Safety Around Water Week and summer camp.
Santa and Mrs. Claus, aka Craig Stewart and Bette Kaupa, watched kids play with Legos outside and handed out candy canes in the Kids’ Club room. It was their second year helping out the local Y.
“Every dollar that I bring in as Santa goes directly to St. Baldrick’s [Foundation for childhood cancer research]. I’ve raised over $100,000 myself,” Stewart said.
Stewart said his team in the Washington, D.C., area has raised more than $1 million.
For more information or to donate to the Sussex Family YMCA, go to ymcade.org/locations/sussex-ymca.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
