Legacy of late-Bob Telmosse’ carried on through 39th annual Christmas Giveaway in Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Thanks to Bob Telmosse', hundreds of families who normally wouldn't have much of a Christmas, get one.
He was known for his popular furniture commercials; others knew him by his Santa Bob nickname and the holiday tradition he started 39 years ago to help provide a Christmas to many who wouldn't otherwise have one.
According to the Bob Telmosse' Foundation, the Christmas Giveaway began in 1983 after someone ran an ad in the Gazette Telegraph claiming his business was giving away free food.
"It was a competitor, we think," said Janelle Hannaman, who's on the foundation's board of directors. "And it happened on an Easter weekend."
Despite it being a hoax, Telmosse' provided people with food and resources the next day. Since then, Telmosse' and his foundation have provided food, clothing, gifts and toys to families in need for Christmas.
Telmosse' passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on through his foundation; he moved the giveaway to Christmas because he felt more families are in need then.
This year, the foundation partnered with the Christmas Tree Project to give away 200 trees. On the Saturday before Christmas, families with children were invited to attend the giveaway or pick up a tree in the parking lot without going inside.
"We're seeing more blended families, multi-family households," Hannaman explained. "Families will bring their neighbors' kids and they'll all come together. We'll see 15 to 20 people in a group."
She said the event was supported by donations of $30,000.
A line of families began forming long before the doors opened at 8:30 at the Colorado Springs Event Center, at the intersection of Academy and Palmer Park boulevards.
Greeters cheerfully welcomed families and directed them to several areas inside; in one, young children picked out a stuffed animal; in another, children up to age 18 chose a variety of age-appropriate gifts; free coloring books, crayons and board games also were available.
In an area called Olivia's Corner, volunteers escorted children in to select a gift for their parents, and also had the gifts wrapped.
Dozens of kids won a raffle for free bicycles by randomly choosing lollipops and finding a red marking on the stem.
One boy said that winning a bike was special to him.
"It's a girl's bike but I think I can make it into a boy's bike," he said. "I had two bikes before but they both got stolen."
Local bike shops provided volunteers who adjusted the bikes for the size of each child.
For many of the participating families, this year's giveaway was the most special of all; Melanie Lundene smiled as her three-year-old son, Lucas, pedaled his new bike.
"We're excited because it's his first bike," she said. "We read about this event of Facebook and thought we'd come over. We couldn't afford a bike this year and we kept our fingers crossed. It's been a rough year with COVID. We're definitely trying to pinch pennies where we can."
Each family also received one of 700 food baskets filled with snacks and other non-perishable items.
Families are not required to register for the giveaway, but parents or guardians must bring their kids with them.
Because of the pandemic, organizers held a drive-thru giveaway last year.
It's a holiday tradition that even The Grinch can't steal.
