"We help deliver love, joy and magic to thousands of kids!"

Louise Locker was having a blue Christmas after family issues had taken a toll on her heart. But then a TV host reading children's letters to Santa sparked an idea, and when Louise anonymously provided a little girl's family with a tree and gifts, she ended up brightening her own holiday. Today, more than five decades later, the "Elf Louise" Project delivers thousands of gifts to children in need every Christmas

- Kellie B. Gormly

Christmas was around the corner, but Louise Locker was feeling down. Her father had recently died suddenly and her mother was working for minimum wage. Christmas just didn't feel the same anymore to the then college freshman.

Then, one night, Louise was watching The Tonight Show when Johnny Carson read children's letters to Santa on-air. A lump formed in Louise's throat, listening to the heartfelt requests from kids, many sharing their family's financial struggles but still having hope that Santa would stop by-and an idea came to her.

What if I could find a little girl who wants dolls for Christmas, and she's not going to get them? Louise thought. I could anonymously give dolls to her. Forever, she can believe that her dreams can come true that there's goodness in the world and a whole lot of love.

A Christmas to remember

The next morning, Louise headed to her San Antonio post office and got permission to read some of the letters to Santa they had received.

Louise read dozens of very sweet letters, but one jumped out at her from a girl named Anna. She wrote: Dear Santa, I know the only reason why you've never given us anything before is because we've never written. Won't you please visit us? We've never had a Christmas tree...

Louise had found her little girl, but touched by so many of the letters, she also selected a dozen others. She was so excited that she wasn't worried about how she was going to pull it off; she would somehow make it work.