Santa visits Camp Hope homeless shelter

A Las Cruces Church is doing what it can to help the local homeless population. Santa Claus himself stopped by the Camp Hope homeless shelter to help some who can’t be with family this holiday season.

For the people living in Tent City, the holidays can be trying times. When most people are enjoying Hanukkah and Christmas at home, these residents have only each other to rely on.

“My only request from him this year, as it is every year, is a peaceful and drug-free world,” said Valerie Chronister, a homeless woman who was hoping to see Santa Friday.

She’s been homeless on and off since 2002 living at Camp Hope since August.

This Christmas will be especially hard for Chronister, it’s the first since her mom died.

“I found out by phone she had passed on, due to dementia, Alzheimer’s, and strokes,” She explained.

Valerie herself suffers from seizures and was just diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She had a minor stroke last week. With all the suffering, she says being able to see Santa has brightened up her season, bringing back happy memories of her family together.

“My mom would be in the kitchen, us kids would be in the living room tearing apart the Christmas presents just to get them open,” Chronister said.

Now she gets together with another family, the residents of Camp Hope. Bingo came after their pictures with Santa, and for them it’s going to be one way to enjoy the holiday season, but the pain is still there

“I wish I could have just said goodbye to my mom one last time and kissed her on the cheek, and told her how much I loved her,” she said.

This is the fourth year running that Santa visits Camp Hope.