By Deb Nicklay
Mitchell County Press-News

STACYVILLE, Iowa — When Santa Claus walked into the Stacyville American Legion on Wednesday, you had to look down.

That’s because Clara Thompson — who has proved to be Santa Claus to a lot of children — is only 6 years old.

Her youth did not keep her heart from being generous and giving this holiday season. The small tyke decided she wanted to give her toys to the annual Toys for Tots campaign. She is the daughter of Jake and Shannon Thompson of Albert Lea.

Just after Thanksgiving, her dad said Clara announced to her parents she wanted to give her toys to an orphanage.

“We just went … ‘Okaaaay,’ as in, where is this coming from?” he said.

As it turned out, Clara got the idea from watching the Sprout Channel television show, “Caillou,” and a storyline that involved the giving of gifts to children who did not have parents.

Her parents, touched by her idea, decided to let Clara keep her toys — but gave her money equal to what her toys were worth and let her purchase new toys that would be given to charity.

Jake, who works at Vasco Rink Systems, in Albert Lea, mentioned Clara’s desire to co-worker Lori Pestorious of rural Lyle. Pestorious, with Tina Johnson of rural St. Ansgar, Iowa, heads up the Mitchell County, Iowa, Toys for Tots campaign for the North Iowa Marine Corps League. She suggested the donation go to Toys for Tots.

The girl’s willingness to give away her toys caught everyone by surprise, said Marine Sgt. Joshua Kearby, a recruiter based in Mason City. The transfer of the 30 toys Clara donated was set at the American Legion in Stacyville. Kearby officially thanked Clara for her generosity.

With her parents and younger brother Liam, looking on, Clara smiled wide for photographs with Kearby.

“Giving away my toys wasn’t something I was thinking about when I was six years old,” he said. “I’ve never been a part of something like this before.”

For Clara, however, it was just the right thing to do.

“I think it feels good, to help,” she said, grinning.