THE spirit of Christmas came early to the Sunshine League Children's Home yesterday in the form of a $25,000 donation by an anonymous businessman.This follows a recent appeal in the Mid-Ocean News by executive director Denise Carey who highlighted the plight of not only children spending Christmas at the home, but also dire repairs needed to the King Street property.

The most pressing need was to replace leaking windows, but at a price tag of $24,590 and no maintenance budget to speak of, the home could not afford it.

But a very emotional Ms Carey was left in tears yesterday after her 'Santa' dropped by to praise her for the work she was doing — and handed her an envelope before leaving.

"He said it was a small donation from him and his family and kept grinning at me, but I didn't think anything of it," she recalled, thanking him before going back to her office.

She described how she opened the envelope and almost dropped the cheque when she saw it was made out for $25,000.

"I said 'Oh my God' when I saw how much it was," she added. "I ran outside to find him, but he had gone up the chimney in a flash."

She said staff and children at the home have not stopped smiling since the article appeared last Friday, with donations flooding in.

Members of the public and various schools have donated almost every item on the extensive wish list — including gifts for the children spending Christmas at the home.

"Students and teachers from Saltus, Mount St. Agnes and Harrington Sound all donated money and items, while Gilbert Institute donated all the door money from a recent play," Ms Carey said with a laugh.

To top it all off, the American Society has invited her on a shopping spree at Gorhams to buy whatever else is needed at the home in time for Christmas.

"The response from the community has been awesome and I just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you!"