MARYSVILLE – The classic movie “Miracle on 34th Street” debates if Santa is real.

With the Miracle on State Street program in Marysville, there is no doubt.

Santa works every year with students in the leadership class at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Four girls took the lead this year: seniors Claire Dobler, Amanda Kalab and Megan Stuart, along with sophomore Bailey Nelson.

“It’s our baby,” Dobler said, adding they started the project in October.

Stuart said counselors at every elementary school in the district come up with names of families who are most in need of help at Christmas time. This year  Miracle on State Street is helping 15 families, with one-to-five kids, ranging in age from 4 months to 21 years. Every class at M-PHS is assigned a family and either buys presents on the kids’ wish list or donates the money so the leadership class can buy them.

The four girls were wrapping the presents this week. If there weren’t the same number of presents for each child, or if they really wanted something they didn’t get, the girls made sure they “filled in the gaps,” Stuart said.

Dobler said items donated included: three bicycles, a scooter, roller blades, $150 hair salon gift certificate, blankets, coats, socks, shoes and so much more.

“I don’t know how many ‘Frozen’ dolls” of Elsa and Anna, Dobler said.

Kalab said she’s had a good feeling working on the project.

“We’re helping out the whole community,” she said.

Nelson said it also makes her feel good inside.

“It’s one-hundred times better to give” than receive, she said.

“It’s heart-warming to know the kids will have something for Christmas instead of nothing at all.”