In the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, the diocesan office of Stewardship and Development recently began receiving phone calls from donors who wanted to play Santa Claus and purchase something for a charity or school that was really needed, in addition to monetary donations.

So director Paula Moss and communications director Becky Summers put out a call to school principals and directors of charitable agencies, asking them to send in grown-up Christmas wish lists for their school or agency.

The principals and directors were asked to write down three wishes and estimate the cost, from the inexpensive to the "Neiman Marcus" level. The "Three Wishes" letters began arriving by e-mail, and kept on coming.

Let's start with a letter from the Sisters of St. Francis of Savannah. They sent two wishes for their La Verna Village Nursing Home. They need three slings and three batteries for their MoLift Quick Release hydraulic lifts, at a cost of $200 for each item.

Jim Cleary runs three ministries at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Oakview: The junior and senior high school youth groups need a refrigerator and microwave, together about $225; the Special Religious Education ministry for persons with disabilities needs gutters for the modular building near the church where the sessions are held ($750), fabric and candles to create an environment for the sessions ($100) and coloring books, toys and other activities ($200); the parish's ministry to the disabled needs funding to provide weekly interpreted Masses ($35 per Mass).

Rita Flynn of the Restorative Justice and Turnaround Program of prison ministry wants 100 hats and pairs of gloves for men and women ($5 each), 100 pairs of men's socks ($5 each) and 50 blankets ($10 each).

St. James Place food pantry has a leaky roof. The cost of repairing the leak will be about $4, 985. Deacon Frank Peak would also like some help purchasing food for the pantry's homeless clients ($150 for one night). He says a leaf blower to keep the parking lot clean would be great ($295).

Tom Turner of Bishop Sullivan Center hopes to provide a furnace for a senior citizen on a fixed income ($1,600), an electric stove for another senior on a fixed income ($300) and a full size bed with a frame ($150).

The Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education helps special needs children attend their parish school with their siblings and peers. Maura Nulton writes that she wishes for a computer system for their new office space ($1,000), software and educational materials for children with special needs ($500 each).

On behalf of the youth group of St. Bridget Parish in Pleasant Hill, Laurie Jo Holmes writes they would like 13 St. Joseph Bibles for the senior class ($150) and Spirit and Song Nos. 1 and 2 CD collections for their youth meetings ($210). They also dream of an Epson data projector for the youth groups, School of Religion and adult education classes ($800 - $1,000).

The youth group at St. Peter Parish also has Bibles on their wish list. Margaret Haik asks for Fireside Catholic Youth Bibles (they need 40 at $25 each). She also asks for sponsors for mission trips. She says the cost is about $350 per student, but any amount will be welcomed.

Ivette Ruiz of the Hispanic Community of Holy Cross Parish dreams of a vacuum cleaner to help clean the church after meetings. The one they have doesn't work well, she writes. She also wishes they had a janitor cart to help them clean up after they sell food items outside the church. Proceeds from the food sales help pay for Spanish books for their CCD classes.

St. Joseph Cathedral School's principal Mary Burgess hopes to find sets of literature/grammar books for each student in the middle school ($80 for each set of two) and 20 Catholic Teen Bibles for eighth graders ($9 each) under the tree. Burgess also hopes for a sound system for the school music department ($2,000).

Barb McCormack of Our Lady of Peace School wishes for $50 teacher appreciation gift certificates. She has 20 teachers. The school also needs 25 computers for the computer lab ($1,000 each) and new playground equipment ($7,000).

Michelle Toomey of Coronation Parish Little Lambs Early Childhood Center wants a wooden block starter set ($110) three tricycles ($130 each) and a new swing set ($900).

Laurie Fisher of St. Therese North Early Childhood Center has board books for their infant/toddler and 2-year-old rooms ($5 and up for each) and a digital camera, new or used, on her list.

Our Lady of the Angels School Principal Connie Bowman has lots of wishes. She would like to find 24 boxes of copy paper under the tree ($500) and new carpeting for the school ($17,000).

From the new Catholic high school, Cristo Rey, Sister of Charity of Leavenworth Vickie Perkins asks for copy paper at $3 a ream, donations of any amount for new lockers, and an LCD projector ($500).

St. Pius X High School principal Joe Monachino dreams of new lights for the football stadium ($50,000 - $100,000).

Catholic Charities reports that their Senior Care Services need a new or gently used passenger van or minivan to transport senior citizens, and uniform shirts for caregivers. The Children and Family Services division needs four locking file cabinets, 20 car seats and a year's supply of diapers and diaper wipes. Counseling Services needs two locking file cabinets and three copies of a Training Guide for Childhood Disorders ($80 each).

Let's read one last letter. Here's one that reads, "Who knows, if you really believe, maybe some Christmas magic will find you."

The grown-up letters to Santa Claus are vastly different from skates, dolls, iPods and "my two front teeth," but school principals and charity directors are hoping their dreams come true.

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