On a pleasant Saturday afternoon, Dec. 2, Gloucester City children drank hot cocoa, ate cookies, played on the swings and got to tell Santa Claus what they wanted this Christmas during a celebration that also collected socks for veterans and the homeless.
“Last year 3,000 pairs of socks were donated, and we hope for 6,000 this year,” said Mark Chapman, one of the family organizers of the second annual Shane Chapman Sock Drive at the Shane Chapman Memorial Park on Park Avenue.
“This is an absolutely great event,” said Angela Ingram, who delivers the socks to veterans’ organizations and homeless shelters in Camden.
At the beginning of the three-hour event, there were already nearly 100 parents and children enjoying the festivities in the park.
The youngsters were thrilled to climb onto the trailer donated by the Gloucester City Irish Society and meet Santa Claus (aka the jolly Chris Gavin), especially three-year-olds Milani Ulak and Bailey Brennan – whose eyes sparkled with awe and wonder.
Other children dropped their letters to Santa in the park mailbox, with the promise of getting a personal letter back in return.
The Chapman family organized the sock drive as a way to remember and preserve the legacy of Shane Chapman, who passed away at the age of six from brain cancer in 2006.
“Shane loved Christmas. My wife Wendy and I miss him every day,” said Mark Chapman, who was very happy about the turnout.
“I feel like we have a good, tight community,” said Zachary Chapman, 23, Shane’s twin brother.
“I miss him all the time. I remember he was always happy.”
Despite the tragic loss of Shane Chapman 17 years ago, the family, including his oldest brother Collin, 26, has found a way to honor their son and brother and also help people in need of warm socks as winter approaches.
Plus, the sock drive provided happiness to all the children who got a chance to meet Santa Claus.
