Tiernan was beyond happy when Santa Claus knelt next to his wheelchair and reached out to hold his hand.

The 20-year-old is nonverbal but his smile said it all.

“His smile is contagious,” his mother, Janna, said.

There were lots of smiles at Marklund Wasmond Center Saturday when Santa and Mrs. Claus delivered presents during a holiday party for those who live at the facility. Jolly old St. Nick had lots of helpers who donated presents and assisted residents in opening each one.

Marklund, located at 1435 Summit St., is a nonprofit residential and therapeutic center serving infants, children, teens, and adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities and have special health-care needs.

Marklund has been doing its gift opening event for more than 20 years, said Dawn Lassiter-Brueske, director of marketing and communications. It brought the tradition to Elgin after it merged with the former Little Angels Center for Exceptional Care in 2016, she said.

Sarah appears delighted with her gifts, a stuffed unicorn and a Care Bear, during a Christmas party Saturday at the Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin, which cares for people with profound developmental disabilities. She’s seen here with longtime Marklund volunteer Arlana Fako. (Gloria Casas/The Courier-News)

The event helps “give our residents new faces to see and new friends to make,” Lassiter-Brueske said. It also helps more people learn about Marklund, she said.

It’s nice to have volunteers visit, especially this time of year, Lassiter-Brueske said. “We get a lot more groups who want to come and spread holiday cheer,” she said.

George and Arlana Fako have been volunteering for the Christmas gift opening event for 30 years. The couple got involved after George made a donation to the organization and was recruited to help out, they said.

“They give to us like we give to them,” Arlana Fako said as she opened a gift for Sarah.

Sarah has lived at Marklund for five years, her brother, Gio Martinez, said.

“I think it’s great every year,” he said. “It’s special. It’s nice to be able to enjoy this, together with everyone.”

Sarah clapped when another present was delivered. She started to tear the Christmas wrapping off while Martinez held the gift, which was a Care Bear. She happily pressed the blue stuffed animal to her cheek.

Martinez said his sister was excited as he gently rubbed her head to calm her down a little.

Nearby, volunteer Cheryl Bachman sang a Christmas carol to a girl named Adriana. The young girl received a pink massage ball that Bachman used on her arms. Bachman knows calming techniques because she has a grandson with autism, she said.

“I’m a grandma. I’m an educator. It’s part of me,” she said.

Marklund had more than 150 volunteers Saturday for the center’s 82 residents, said Melanie Toth, a volunteer engagement specialist.

“It was the first time for many of the volunteers. A lot of them said they were looking forward to coming back and volunteering,” Toth said.

Gift donations come from corporations and businesses, including Elgin Community College, she said. The Elgin Police Department delivered a gift to every resident and donated gift cards, she said.

This season, area groups have visited Marklund to perform Christmas concerts, including Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra’s string quartet and the Larkin High School chorus, Toth said.

Among the volunteers were Steve and Christine Richards, who accompanied their son, Carson, and his Boy Scout Pack 107 from Elburn. Steve helped Amanda open a present and showed her the white fleece blanket decorated with red cherries.

Amanda flashed a smile when she saw what she had received.

Volunteer Steve Richards helps Amanda open her presents Saturday during a Christmas party at the Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin. She flashed a smile after every gift was opened. (Gloria Casas/The Courier-News)

“It has been a lot of fun and exciting,” said Christine Richards, noting that helping there felt good.

As volunteers helped Tiernan open his presents, including a Chicago Bears Caleb Williams jersey, his mother took a photo with her phone. Her son has been at Marklund for a few years.

Tiernan had an accident when he was 10 that left him in a wheelchair and unable to communicate. “He’s doing very well. He just communicates visually. He’s made progress,” his mom said.

As for Marklund, “I love the help he has here. He has 24 hours of nursing care, which is hard for me to do at home, by myself, as a single mom,” Janna said. “If I’m having a bad day, coming to see him is the best thing because he’s always happy. He’s always smiling. I’m thankful that I still have him.”

And she’s grateful to all the people who donated and volunteered to make her son’s holiday a little brighter.

“I can’t even express my gratitude,” Janna said.

Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/marklund-christmas-party-elgin-gifts/