WHEELING — On Christmas morning, boys at the St. John’s Home for Children will get to tear into gifts left under the tree by Santa Claus, who received a little help from his local McDonald’s elves this year.

Bob Stoltz, owner of several local McDonald’s, said employees of his company and workers at his local stores all chipped in to purchase gifts on the wish lists of the 11 boys living in the home in Wheeling.

“We’re just happy to be given the chance to give back to the community,” Stoltz said on Wednesday. “McDonald’s is synonymous with kids so it just makes a lot of sense … to help make their Christmas a little better.”

Stoltz said he was pleased the employees were able to participate in helping make the children’s Christmas morning a bright one.

“We have the best employees. They did a really nice job of being selfless and taking the time to do this, and to give back a little bit themselves,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. I’m grateful we had a chance to do this.

“I wish a Merry Christmas to our employees and customers and everyone out there in the community.”

Amy Pramesa, executive assistant at St. John’s Home, said the home is a residential treatment facility for boys ages 6-12 years old.

“They asked us for their wish lists and then their employees are so generous; they collect toys and they’re already wrapped and ready to go,” Pramesa said. “Without wonderful folks like McDonald’s we wouldn’t be able to have the Christmas we have for our boys. It’s wonderful.”

She said some of the items the children wished for included Legos, Beyblades, arts and crafts, science kits, clothes, and the boys 10 to 12 years old wished for cologne.

“We put it under the Christmas tree just like anybody would, and the kids all come out together and it’s, I guess, organized chaos when you have 11 of them opening Christmas gifts,” Pramesa said. “They are so excited because our kids all come from different treatment facilities, mostly. Some of our sister agencies may not have the donor base we have.

“And so our kids get an overabundance for Christmas … They’re not used to that from the homes they have come from,” she added. “So they are so very excited. They become our kids working in this field.”

Pramesa said the children live in the facility 24/7 because they have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect.

She thanked McDonald’s for the gifts.

“We can’t thank them enough for doing what they do for us,” she said. “If we didn’t have wonderful donors our kids would not have the great Christmas memories they do while they’re with us at St. John’s.”

Devin Eiler, youth care worker at St. John’s Home for Children, said his job as a care worker includes getting the children up everyday, feeding them before school and doing homework with them.

“We just make sure they think and act like Christ sometimes,” he said. “We generally guide them and keep them safe and happy. We get them out and do fun stuff with them.”

Eiler enjoys getting to see the children open their presents on Christmas morning.

“It’s really such a magical moment. They come out and their eyes light up. It’s wonderful. They think Santa has dropped off an ocean full of toys.

“And for the next 45 minutes to an hour we’re unwrapping gifts and having fun.”