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Utah family agrees to help others in need, is surprised with gifts instead

Posted at 10:34 PM, Dec 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-18 00:43:33-05

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah – A family in Saratoga Springs was treated to a Christmas surprise they will never forget, but it took a little white lie to make it happen.

Every year, the non-profit group Christmas 4 Families  finds families who need a little extra help this holiday season.

“The meaning of Christmas, and that is giving joy to people that can't really, they are in a state where they can’t really enjoy Christmas to the fullest,” ‘Santa Clause’ told Fox 13 News.

Daniel Thompson, founder of Christmas 4 Families, received a message on Facebook recently about the Del Lago family.

“This morning I was wondering what we were gonna do,” Christine Del Lago said.

With the prospect of a slim Christmas on the horizon, Thompson took action.

“So I said, can you get them to come out to dinner? And they actually didn’t want to come, they wanted to just stay home,” Thompson said.

In order to convince them to leave home, the group told the Del Lagos family that by coming out to the restaurant they could help a different family in need.

“A struggling family, willing to give up what little they have for some other family,” Thompson said.

The family showed up, not knowing that Santa Clause was on his way with gifts for their four little children.

“We haven’t had a Christmas like this before,” Del Lago said.

The gifts included everything from food to clothing to toys, and it had the children smiling from ear-to-ear.

“One of my daughters asked me, ‘Why is this happening mom?’ I just told her that God really listens to mom’s prayers,” Del Lago said.

This is the seventh year now for Christmas 4 Families, and this has been the 127th family that has received gifts from the group.

“I’m so grateful for all of you, for doing this for my kids: I’m really, really grateful,” Del Lago said.

To learn more about Christmas 4 Families, click here.