A Hand Up, Not a Handout: The 2026 Social Santa Mission

It is no secret that people are hurting financially right now. Over the last couple of years, the cost of absolutely everything has skyrocketed while wages stay stagnant, forcing families to make impossible choices about what to cut just to keep the lights on. I know this because I am living it, too. I have had to make drastic cuts to where I spend money, and that has directly impacted EMIAC Studio. Planning for Social Santa this year has been incredibly difficult because the extra cash to dump into advertising and setup just isn’t there anymore.

If it weren't for my family and the compound we have built here on the farm, things would be vastly different. My mom and my brothers’ wives go above and beyond every single day, and honestly, a "thank you for supper" never feels like enough. But sometimes, that is all we have to give. If it weren't for those three women, there are days we simply wouldn't get fed. I resonate deeply with anyone who is struggling right now, especially those who are worse off than I am.

That reality is exactly why Social Santa is pivoting this year. We are stepping back from the hospital comfort bears so we can focus on fully adopting local Central Alberta families in crisis. But I want to be incredibly clear about how we are doing this: This is a hand up, not a handout.

I despise the word "handout." A handout implies a permanent crutch, and it strips people of their dignity. What I have always tried to build with this studio is an opportunity to help people stand back up. Sometimes that means bringing in a hair and makeup artist for a woman who has survived a deeply traumatic chapter, just to give her a few hours of relief, take beautiful photos, and remind her that she is an amazing, wonderful human being and that the darkness will pass. Social Santa operates on that exact same philosophy. It is about restoring hope and dignity for people who just need a hand up to get back on their feet.

I know there are fiercely strong-willed, proud parents out there who would never in their wildest dreams ask for assistance. They won't go to the Christmas Bureau. They won't go to the food bank. They will just grit their teeth, battle through the stress, and quietly explain to their kids that Christmas just isn't happening this year because the mortgage and the groceries have to come first.

Those are the families we are looking for. And to find them, I need the eyes and ears of our community.

I am calling on our local teachers, Educational Assistants (EAs), babysitters, and community leaders. You see the families who are struggling but will never ask for help. I need you to contact me and quietly nominate them. This process is strictly confidential. It is just me, myself, and I operating the studio. I will do the shopping, and I will handle the deliveries—whether that is a couple of days before Christmas or directly on Christmas Eve. No public spectacle, no embarrassment. Just Santa delivering a meal and some Christmas magic so a family can breathe again.

We have already seen incredible support for this mission. A couple of weeks ago, we had an RCMP K9 unit out on our property tracking a suspect. While he was here, the officer saw the Social Santa yard setup and asked me about it. I explained the mission to him. A couple of days later, that officer personally donated $1,000 to kick-start our year. As a family that has allowed police dog training on our properties for as long as I can remember, having the unit here for a real call was unique enough—but for that officer to recognize what we are doing and step up with such a massive contribution left me completely speechless. I am still struggling to find the words to thank him properly.

It is moments of community support like that which remind me of why I built this in the first place. I think some folks might have forgotten how and why Social Santa actually started.

Back in 2020 and 2021, when there was no in-person Santa, when the malls were shut down and kids were losing that holiday magic, my children and I froze our butts off sitting in the middle of an open field. I dug into my own pockets, burned my own generator fuel to power those lights, and put together a very unique, farmer-esque Christmas display. Nobody asked me to do it. Nobody begged me. It was just what I wanted to do for the children of Central Alberta, and you all braved the cold every single night to come out and experience it.

I am not bringing this up to beg for business. I just want to remind people that I was there for our community when nobody else could pull it off. And I am really hoping that those of you who started coming to me back then—or even back when I was working at the mall—can find your way back this year.

Even if your kids are older now, coming out to the farm shouldn't just be about the age of your children. Grab a Timmy’s or a Starbucks, drive out to the farm, and just enjoy the spectacle of a yard set up with as many Christmas lights as I can afford. Come inside, get some goofy family pictures done, and just have an enjoyable evening out that won’t cost an arm and a leg.

If I knew we were going to be packed, I have the Lions Club and other groups willing to come out and do hot chocolate nights. But I can't ask them to come out and freeze outside unless I can guarantee we are going to be busy, just like we were in 2020.

So if you are reading this, I am not asking you for random donations.

All I am asking is for you to bring your family out. Book an appointment for November or December, or just show up as a walk-in customer. It is a flat $25 whether you book ahead or walk in. We don't stop you from using your cell phone—take as many photos as you want. If you would like the professional "Santa Magic" edited photos, we offer those at a separate cost, but they are never mandatory.

If you can't make it out to the farm, at the very least, please like, share, and follow our website and socials. Share this with your friends who have younger children. Like all of you, I am left counting dollars at the end of every month, and the only way I can keep this farm display and this mission going is with the help of this community spreading the word.

Your $25, your visits, and your shares are going directly toward giving local families the hand up they desperately need this year. Let's make it happen.

Lee J. Kemp

Every Moment is a Choice Studio @emiacstudio.ca

Social Santa 2026, Innisfail Alberta, Christmas Bureau, Adopt A Family, Farm Photography, Central Alberta, #EmiacStudio

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