‘Santa Frank’ delivers holiday joy for kids in Montreal youth protection

Frank Campanile works in the archives at Montreal’s Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, but during the holidays, he takes on another role.

For more than 40 years, Frank Campanile has worked in the archives at Montreal’s Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, sorting through the files of the thousands of children who have come in and out of the youth protection system.

During the holiday season, his job description changes, though.

He becomes “Santa Frank,” overseeing a major operation to deliver thousands of gifts to children affiliated with the organization.

“It wasn’t me who started it,” he said. “It was a company that came here. They had wanted to do a gift exchange with their staff, and they said they’d rather give it to the kids.”

That one act of generosity inspired Campanile to expand on the idea. Using his gift of organization, he recruited a team of volunteers and workers to ensure each child in the system has a gift to open during the holidays.

The social workers help the child fill out a wish list, which is sent to Santa Frank. He said he reads each one, and then he and his volunteers get to work — shopping, wrapping and collecting gifts from donors and businesses.

“We have the name, gender, what they’d like to have, the social worker’s name, their age. So, it’s all there,” Campanile said. “We try our best to fulfill what they’re asking for.”

But there are some wishes Campanile cannot fulfill.

“These kids spill their hearts. It’s amazing what they asked for and what they want. And with so many kids, all they want to do is go home,” he said.

The holidays can be an especially difficult time for older kids, who are about to age out of the system, and have to set up their own homes, according to educator Melanie Fournier. She said many of their wish lists include practical items, like home goods and grocery gift cards.

Even so, she said she’s seen the impact these gifts have when she hands them out to the kids she mentors.

“The older teenagers, they’ll say things like, ‘Wow, I didn’t think anyone really cared,’” Fournier said.

She adds that some of them return years later with their own gifts to donate.

“They’ll say I remember when I was 16, 17, and somebody gave me an air fryer or a new pair of sneakers,” she said. “It’s full circle.”

“Santa Frank” may never get to see the joy on the faces of the kids when they open their presents, but he said he enjoys seeing the joy on the faces of those who donate gifts to the campaign.

He said many are brought to tears when they see the pile of gifts that fills the gymnasium each year, knowing that behind each one is a child in a difficult situation.

Campanile said it still brings him to tears, too, and he wants to keep going even though he is nearing retirement.

“I believe in this cause, this is beautiful,” he said, pointing to the gifts surrounding him. “This is magical.”