A Secret Santa steps in after teen baker’s oven breaks down days before Christmas
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A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season. Every day, from now until the end of the year, the East Idaho News elves will be delivering gifts from Secret Santa and we’ll be sharing the surprise videos here.
Natalie Dickson is about to celebrate her 17th birthday, but this year the milestone comes during a stressful time for her family.
Natalie is the second-oldest of eight children and the only girl in the family. Homeschooled, she is completing her high school education while also taking college classes through BYU–Idaho. She’s described as selfless and kind, often stepping into a motherly role to help care for her younger brothers.
That same sense of responsibility and drive led Natalie to start her own business two summers ago. Called The Baking Ninja, the small bakery has become her way of saving money. Natalie regularly sells gourmet cookies and sweet rolls at the Rexburg Farmers Market, building a loyal customer base with both her baking skills and work ethic.
But just as she prepares to fill an upcoming order, the Dickson family’s oven unexpectedly stopped working — a major setback for both Natalie’s business and her family of 10.
Secret Santa heard about Natalie and asked the East Idaho News elves to surprise her with a Christmas gift. Check out the video in the player above!
