Good Santa: The magic in the mall

With Santa Claus so busy at the North Pole this time of year, it's no wonder that he needs many helpers.

Walt Chappel, 71, is one of those helpers, donning the familiar white beard and red suit to help entertain children for Mr. Claus at the Kalispell Center Mall this year, and find out a little bit about their Christmas wishes.

"I tell you," Chappel says, in a voice that is soft and gentle, "I should have found that niche in my life 20 years ago."

Chappel is a pastor at Country Way Church of God in Kalispell and also is a part-time security and maintenance employee at the mall. As he recently talked about his experiences as the mall Santa, his kind nature made it easy to picture him in a red and white suit instead of the blue work shirt and baseball cap he normally dons at work.

As a pastor, Chappel usually focuses on the religious aspects of Christmas. But this year his job as Kris Kringle allows him to be a part of the "magic" of Christmas.

There's something about Santa that gets to people, regardless of age, Chappel says. He can't explain the phenomenon or describe in words the feelings Mr. Claus stirs in people. But the effect Santa has on myriad people is undeniable.

"They can be the roughest guy on the street, but when Christmas time comes and there's Santa," he said, "there's some kind of spirit of the season that changes your whole outlook on life."

The majority of his visitors at the mall are children, although teenagers and adults also stop to chat with Santa. He's happy to talk with anyone and everyone who wanders by Santa's seat in the mall.

"If you don't have love inside for people," he said, "you can just as well forget it, you won't make it as Santa."

Even with his good attitude though, Chappel has seen numerous children who aren't sure what to make of him and who are none too happy to be out of mom's arms and into his. He has two tools to stop the ensuing tears.

"Communication is as big a key as it is with most people," he said.

He puts children at ease by talking to them about things they're interested in. If that fails, he uses the back-up tool.

"Candy canes," he says, laughing, "They change a lot of people."

The gift requests and inquiries about what will be under the tree on Christmas Day come pouring in when the youngsters are relaxed.

"Once they start talking," he says, "they're like a phonograph - they don't hardly run down."

Chappel has heard requests for almost everything this season. Lots of children have asked for computers and Barbies. One child asked not for a pony, but for a horse shed. Another asked for a tractor. And a little girl had a simple answer for what she wanted: "Everything!"

Chappel laughs about that one. He doesn't mind hearing about the commercial aspect of Christmas; he just takes it in stride, he says. He hopes children hear the religious message of Christmas at home and at church. During a recent service at his own church, Chappel tried a unique approach to balancing the commercial aspect of Christmas (aka Santa) with the religious message. He delivered his sermon decked out in a Santa suit.

"My message for the day was the story of Jesus the Christ through the eyes of Santa," he said.

That approach went over well with the children at church, he says. Chappel doesn't focus on Santa as a symbol of commercialism but rather as a symbol of goodwill, giving and joy.

"I find no fault with that as long as we find that Jesus is the reason for the season," he says.

However, along with the calls for toys come the occasional serious pleas. Chappel recalls one particular girl whose request stuck with him. The girl told him she and her mother were living with relatives and that the situation wasn't ideal. She asked Santa to bring them their own house for Christmas.

"I wished I was a millionaire and I could make it happen," Chappel said.

He apologizes as he wipes tears away. He's the emotional type anyway and talking about being Santa is sure to get him going, he says. Another emotional moment in the Santa suit came earlier in the season when he was suddenly surrounded by children delighted to see Santa. Seeing those little hands reaching out to him and the smiles on their faces was a priceless moment for the pastor.

"That would break down the heart of the hardest old man," he said.

Chappel's heart is hardly one that needs softening, says his coworker, Bob Manners, the mall's facilities engineer and security chief.

"I think its just his love for people - the guy's got a big heart," he says.

Reporter Camden Easterling may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com