Harrison County’s ‘Shanna Claus’ hopes community’s kindness to kids inspires others this Christmas

Christmas has always been Shanna Kay Bordelon’s favorite time of year.

She’s known for getting so excited that her mother jokingly nicknamed her “Shanna Claus” early on, a name that’s stuck with friends, family and even her coworkers.

It’s also a nickname she’s lived up to.

For the last four years, the Harrison County Youth Court family counselor has been spending the days leading up to Christmas a little different than most people. She still shops for gifts and wraps presents, but she also organizes an effort called Shanna Clause Day that’s fueled by the generosity of the community.

This year, nearly 30 local children will have better Christmases because of it.

As a family counselor, she and her coworkers see families in need every day.

“For some kids, this may be the only Christmas they get or the biggest one they get,” Bordelon said. “Some of these kids go through so much. I know in my heart this brings them some joy, and maybe helps them forget about other things for a day.”

Shanna Clause Day started when Bordelon began working at the Harrison County Youth Court, and she went on a home visit that sparked an idea.

“I went on a home visit with an intake officer around Christmas time, and it was a home with no gifts,” she said. “That year I helped that family with Christmas. The next year, we saw more families in need, so we took them on. Now, every year it’s gotten bigger and bigger.”

She says people across the Coast offering to pitch in has been something she is amazed by with every donation.

“Seeing this community come together for families in need is incredible,” she said. “With so much bad that’s going on In the world, it’s humbling to know there are so many people ready to help.”

Social media has been Bordelon’s main source of communication for posting when a new child or family needs to be “adopted” for Christmas or she’s short a gift. Some responses are from people in other states.

“It wouldn’t even be a couple hours before someone would scoop them up,” Bordelon said. “I even posted I needed a bike for a child, and by the time I got home, there was one on my porch. I’m not sure what I did to have such generous people in my life.”

The Youth Court’s halls on Thursday were lined with gifts, bags, stockings, stuffed animals and more — all donated. Court staff, her husband, Troy, and even Santa were there to help set up all of the gifts.

This was the first year the families were invited to the court to open their gifts among the volunteers and staff. It’s something Bordelon was anticipating all day.

As the bags and gifts were unloaded into the courtroom, toys, bikes, books, games and more filled up nearly every pew in the front of the courtroom. The staff and volunteers laid out each child’s presents in their own section of the courtroom, each stack labeled by a stuffed stocking with their names.

“This is what makes me happy,” she said. “I don’t need presents. The joy on a child’s face makes all the planning, wrapping, everything worth it.”

But the biggest gift others can give comes without ribbons, and it comes without tags. It won’t even come with packages, boxes or bags.

Just like the words in a classic holiday tale, Bordelon believes Christmas doesn’t just come from a store. To quote Dr. Seuss’ the Grinch, “Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Bordelon hopes the generosity sparks something in others, and not just during the holiday season.

“I hope that this maybe creates a ripple,” she said. “I hope someone sees it and ask themselves ‘how can I help?’ instead of ‘someone should help.’ We’re all a somebody. At the least we could all be a little kinder.”