My Santa Train Experience

As I've grown older I've found it increasingly hard to get myself into the holiday spirit. It would seem that the "Giving Season" has been transformed into the "Getting Season". Instead of the end of the year being a time for family and reflection it has become a time of shopping and sales. One would think that tough economic times would make people re-examine what's truly important in life. Instead we've seen unprecedented discounting and marketing designed to drive people into stores to spend what few dollars they do have. It feels like consumerism has become king.

At least this is what I thought until I spent a cold, wintry November day in the Appalachian areas of Kentucky and Tennessee.

This year I had the unique opportunity to participate in CSX's 66th Annual Santa Train Event. Each year CSX works with Food City and the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce to provide gifts for thousands of children who otherwise might not receive any. Organizations from across the country provide over 15 tons of gifts for the families of Appalachia. Hundreds of volunteers lend their time and support to organize this event. The entire event truly represents what the Christmas spirit is all about.

On the day of the event we boarded the Santa Train in Pikeville, KY and traveled to multiple towns and stops along the 110-mile route to Kingsport, TN. Along the route we were greeted by thousands of families who anxiously awaited our arrival. In some cases families arrived long before daybreak to catch a glimpse of Santa. It was a logistical feat like none I've seen before to mobilize so many people and distribute so many gifts for such a wonderful cause.

Throughout the day I met people who told me how much the Santa Train meant to them and their families. I met families across multiple generations that had all grown up with Santa Train. It wasn't hard to see the positive impact the event had on peoples' lives.

When I told my friends and associates who were familiar with Santa Train that I was participating they told me that the event would change my life forever. They were right.