Grinch, Santa pair up to bring season’s greetings

ROSEVILLE — When Christmas arrived in 2020 — the year of the COVID-19 pandemic — Rick and Dawn Gaines wanted to do something to lift up people’s spirits.

“Everybody was staying home,” Dawn said. “Nobody could do anything.”

One evening, Rick, a professional balloonist who owns Shifty’s Balloon Shenanigans, put on an elf costume and the Roseville couple passed out goodie bags as people drove by their home. The gesture was so well received that it has become an annual tradition that proves there’s no place like home for the holidays.

On the evening of Dec. 8, Rick and Dawn turned their driveway into Santa’s workshop by setting up heated tents with various decorations of wreaths and candy canes. Families brought their children to have pictures taken with the Grinch — Rick in costume — and Santa Claus, portrayed by Roseville resident and friend Gary Geldhof. The first 50 children in line received a toy, and all who stopped by warmed up with hot cocoa and cookies.

Rick and Dawn provided everything at no cost and publicized the event on Facebook via Shifty’s Balloon Shenanigans page. Rick said some neighbors donated returnable bottles and cans to help fund the event. The children went home with memories and either a Lego set, a Barbie doll, a race car or a stuffed animal.

“We try to make it special. Some people stick around and have a good time,” Dawn said. “Last year we had a bunny rabbit and some people brought their dogs. We had a lady last year who was 99 to see Santa.”

Rick and Dawn set up two photo sessions. People come to the yearly event from Roseville, Warren, Madison Heights, St. Clair Shores and Clinton Township.

“We hope it means something to them and keeps them in the spirit,” Rick said. “It’s something we do for the community. We just want to give back a little bit.”

Taking a cue from the 2000 Jim Carrey film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” some visitors gave Rick, aka the Grinch, onions as a gift. Some are leery of the Grinch at first, who at times will sneak up on people or “bother” Santa.

“When you get to see people laughing and enjoying themselves around the holidays, I don’t know of a better gift than that,” Rick said.

One reason behind their generosity is knowing that some families can’t afford to have Christmas photos taken at the mall.

“For a good majority of the families, it’s the only way to see Santa,” Rick said. “It grounds you. This is my way of paying it forward.”

Geldhof, 68, first started playing Santa Claus “on and off over the years” when he was 16. His grandfather had a red suit that he inherited. One of his first Santa gigs was for a friend of his mother.

“I had to walk through the alleys in Detroit,” he said, to get to his destination.

He didn’t hesitate to step up as Santa to be the Grinch’s cohort this year.

“If I put a smile on a kid’s face for 5 minutes, that’s all worth it to me. They sit on my lap and I ask them what they want for Christmas. It’s basically dolls, dogs, cars and stuff like that,” Geldhof said. “The adults love it. Most of them thank you for doing it.”

Rick and Dawn are planning a second event for Dec. 13.