'Christmas has to be magical': Woman making sure every Medical Lake child's Christmas wish comes true

For many Medical Lake families, Christmas looks different this year. Rivas is hoping to make the holidays brighter by making sure every kid gets their letters to Santa answered. 

"The tags have the wishes of the children on them, straight from their wish list," Rivas said.

Rivas is a single mom who overcame addiction. She says the Medical Lake community helped her when she needed it most, so now, she's returning the favor.

"Every year around October, I start putting out multiple posts on every West Plains site that lets them know I've opened a PO box here in Medical Lake and their kid can write a letter to Santa," Rivas said.

Once she receives the letters, she creates tags to be hung at local businesses. That way, anyone can help make a child's Christmas wish come true.

"If I got to go to the store myself and buy it, I will," Rivas said. "I will not tell a child no. Christmas has to be magical. It has to be."

After the Gray fire ripped over 200 families from their homes, Rivas said her efforts are needed more than ever. Kids have always been her priority, but this year, adults and entire families can get their wish list crossed off.

"It's extension cords and lamps and heated blankets," Rivas said. "It's boots and gloves, gardening tools. It's not crazy off the wall stuff, these people just want the little things that they lost."

Melissa Knapp and her family were one of the many who lost their home this summer. She says support from people like Rivas have made all the difference.

"It's difficult, and I can't even imagine being on that other side of it and not having the help that I've had, so it's very inspiring to me," Knapp said. "There's a lot of great people out there."

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