Bill Hulterstrom, president and CEO of the United Way of Utah County, is celebrating his 40th Christmas working with the Sub for Santa program.

The temporary Christmas assistance program, which matches sponsors with families looking for help and provides gifts for children between 18 months and 16 years in age, started at United Way in 1983 with the Utah Division of Family Services asking the United Way to take the lead on the project.

“In the past 40 years, we estimate that we have served over 140,000 children and more than 48,000 families,” Hulterstrom said.

It has been about that long that the Daily Herald has helped introduce families in need through daily articles about families and children who need help during the holidays.

About 20 years ago, Sub for Santa started keeping close records about the program. In those years, 86,844 children and 28,662 families have been served.

In addition, thousands of special needs adults and seniors have also be helped, Hulterstrom noted.

“In recent years, we have increased our support for children’s early literacy by having each child receive three to five books,” Hulterstrom said. “We now partner with social workers in most local schools.”

Hulterstrom noted there are many groups that also contribute throughout the year to Sub for Santa, including Wasatch Mental Health, Community Action Services and Food Bank, Alpine House, Slate Canyon Youth Center and more.

The Giving Tree at University Place and the Angel Trees at Smith’s Marketplace are all part of our program.

United Way is also offering Sub for Santa Plus, a way to help many of these families beyond Christmas with basic needs. These giving opportunities can be found at subforsanta.org.

Hulterstrom is expecting a higher need for volunteers to sponsor families in need this year than in the recent past few years because of higher prices, shortages and more residents with special needs.

Beginning Monday, the Daily Herald will begin printing the stories of Sub for Santa families and their needs. While many organizations are collecting food and gifts for families, the Daily Herald invites volunteer donors to see if they can sponsor whole or event part of each family this year.

Just like Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, the folks at the Sub for Santa program at the United Way of Utah County are working year-round to make lives of children and those in need better.

All names of Sub for Santa participants will be changed to preserve their privacy. To help a family, call the Sub for Santa hotline at 801-356-6300 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or visit subforsanta.org.

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