With her immediate family in Mexico, Rosana Hernandez works full time and sometimes overtime at a warehouse to support herself and her two young sons. That includes sending them to the Catholic grade school about two blocks from their home on St. Paul’s east side: St. Pascal Regional Catholic School.  

Besides the Catholic education, Hernandez appreciates that the school offers “extended day” (care) before and after school, which eliminates job-related worries about how to get her second and fifth grade boys to school and back home. Her 10-year-old son started at St. Pascal the middle of first grade and her 7-year-old started in preschool.  

Money is tight, especially at Christmas. But two years ago, St. Pascal’s principal, Inna Collier Paske, surprised Hernandez with gift cards from a generous benefactor who, for the past five years, had asked Collier Paske to give sets of gift cards to families in need. The Hernandez family was a recipient in 2020 and 2021 of a $200 gift card to Cub for groceries and a $100 gift card for each child to Target (changing to Walmart this year). The benefactor also gives a $50 gift card for each adult. 

Hernandez, 42, recalled the moment that first year when she realized she could buy presents for her sons. “I was crying because I felt so blessed, because my kids were so happy,” she said. “We went to Target and they chose a toy, and then they grabbed some pajamas.” Without the help, she said she couldn’t have purchased Christmas presents for her boys. 

Last year, the gift cards enabled the family to buy an artificial Christmas tree and ornaments that they could set up year after year. Before that, her boys told her that Christmas without a decorated tree didn’t seem like “a real Christmas.” She had told them she couldn’t afford a tree but could purchase something less expensive, like a window decoration.  

Hernandez used the Cub gift card to buy groceries, including the makings of “a really nice Christmas dinner” with Mexican food, she said.  

When she told her boys about the gift cards, her older son was moved to draw a thank you card and picture for the donor. 

The donor requested anonymity for his years of donations, but during a recent interview with The Catholic Spirit, agreed to be named. Kevin Todd, 66, said his three children went to St. Pascal. But before the children were old enough to start school, he and his wife, both working low-wage jobs, struggled financially. Catholic Charities helped the family, he said. And he recalled nuns coming to the family’s door with baskets of food. To this day, he’s not certain where the nuns were based or who “tipped them off” about their situation. “We were very grateful,” he said. 

But, no single event started the ball rolling for his contributions the past five years, said Todd, who lives in North St. Paul. His own childhood Christmases were happy. “My parents had a wonderful Christmas,” he said, recalling how his father, who died just weeks ago, made presents for his children, including a play stove and refrigerator for his sister that saw a lot of use. 

“He would refurbish things for the kids — tricycles, bicycles, toys. We didn’t care,” Todd said. “He’d pick up a tricycle and sand it, paint it, decal it, make it brand new again… . We were happy.” 

Todd, who grew up in South St. Paul, said “Santa always came. We had very fun Christmases. And spiritual, also.” 

Poor kids are sometimes picked on, he said, including at the holidays. When children are asked “What did you get for Christmas?” some reply, “Santa didn’t come” or “we didn’t have Christmas,” he said. 

Todd is a member of a rock ‘n’ roll tribute band, Arch Allies, that plays classic rock songs by such artists as Bon Jovi, Boston, Def Leppard, Journey, Queen, REO Speedwagon and Styx. He plays lead guitar and sings backup vocals.  

Todd plans to continue helping three families each year. “I just want these families to have a good Christmas,” he said, recalling that one family helped this year has six children.  

“I want to help people who can’t afford to have a Christmas,” Todd said. It’s not about giving back, he said, but rather, “giving forward.” 

“I just want to say thank you” to the donor (Todd), Hernandez said. “I feel so blessed. They don’t know who I am, and they have a good heart to think of other people. I wish one day I can do that for another person. 

“We feel so special because we didn’t expect to receive anything,” Hernandez said. “And as a single mom, it’s very hard for me to afford things.” 

Hernandez said the biggest gift she received from Todd was “to see my kids happy.” And providing a lesson for her boys, who “one day have the possibility to help other people,” she said. “They can do that.” 

Todd delivered another set of gift cards to St. Pascal Dec. 6.