When a fire destroyed the Fairless Hills home of Scott and Marybeth Diethorne on October 25, the heartbreak was overwhelming. The couple lost nearly everything they owned, including cherished family possessions, their two beloved dogs, his Ecluctus pet parrot, and the very symbols of Scott’s lifelong passion, a dozen Santa suits and all his gear.
But amid the devastation, the community that Scott has brought joy to for more than three decades came rushing to his side, a powerful reminder of how much one man’s kindness can inspire others to give back.
“It seemed like everybody and anybody who ever came to see me reached out to help,” said Scott, known throughout this community as “Santa Scott.” “People donated clothes, food, gift cards, and even Santa suits. I could never thank everyone enough. The outpouring of love has been unbelievable.”
The Diethorne home on Auburn Road wasn’t just any house; it was Marybeth’s childhood home. The couple moved in together in 1990, married two years later, and raised their large family there.
“We raised our nine children in that home,” Scott said. “Seven girls and two boys, all grown now, and most of them still live nearby. Our kids went to Pennsbury High School and Bucks County Technical High School in Fairless Hills. This has always been our community.”
Today, several of their children continue to live in the area, helping their parents as they recover from the loss. “Our kids have been great; they’re fighting over whose house we are staying at,” Scott said with a smile.
For more than 30 years, Scott Diethorne has been the face of Christmas magic in Lower Bucks County. His long white beard, round tummy, and jolly demeanor have made him a beloved figure at local malls, farms, and community events, from Oxford Valley Mall to Charlann Farms and the Fairless Hills Garden Center, where he’s been Santa for the past eight years.
But this holiday season, it’s the man behind the red suit who’s on the receiving end of that magic.
After the October fire left the Diethorne family without a home, Scott’s younger brother, Chris, quickly set up a GoFundMe page to help. His initial goal was $5,000. Within hours, donations poured in, and in just six days, the campaign raised an astonishing $139,000.
“We were overjoyed and humbled,” Chris said. “This incredible outcome was only possible because of people’s generosity and unselfishness. It’s amazing to see how the community came together to support my brother.”
The family has since closed the GoFundMe page, not because the need has ended, but because, as Chris explained, “We didn’t want to take advantage of people’s kindness. The response was overwhelming, and we’re just so thankful. The community did more than we ever could have imagined.”
Chris, who lives in Missouri, said even from hundreds of miles away he could feel the power of his brother’s reputation and the love surrounding him. “In small communities, people help one another,” he said. “But to see this level of support, this fast, in a larger community was really humbling. It shows how much Scott has touched people’s lives.”
For Scott, being Santa isn’t just a seasonal job; it’s part of who he is, year-round.
He earned the nickname “Santa Scott” as a teenager, thanks to his full beard, large stature, and cheerful nature. But his first real turn as Santa came in 1993, when his infant daughter was hospitalized and he wanted to make sure she didn’t miss her first Christmas. His mother sewed him a Santa suit, and from that moment, a lifelong tradition was born.
“I thought it would just be a one-time thing,” he said. “But the next year, a nurse from St. Christopher’s called and asked me to come back as Santa for the kids. Then the nurses started hiring me for house parties, and it just grew from there.”
Over the years, Scott has donned the red suit at shopping malls, hospitals, schools, and local farms, always finding ways to bring laughter and joy. His signature style is anything but ordinary.
“I don’t do your traditional sit-on-my-lap photos,” he explained. “I’ll hang kids upside down, climb on the back of a chair, or jump up in a silly pose, whatever makes them laugh. I’m also known for my naughty and nice tattoos on my arms. If I can give these children just ten minutes to forget about their problems, that’s what matters to me.”
That heart for others has made him a fixture in the community, someone who brings not just presents, but presence.
“I can’t go to 7-Eleven or the grocery store without kids yelling, ‘Santa, Santa!’” he said. “Even when I’m cutting the grass, the neighborhood kids wave and call out to me. I guess I’m Santa every day of the year.”
When the fire broke out, Scott and his family were celebrating his daughter’s 23rd birthday at a local restaurant. By the time they got home, their house, filled with decades of memories, was engulfed in flames.
“I got there just in time to watch my Harleys explode,” he said quietly. “We lost everything. It started in the attic, and they think it was electrical.”
Yet even in that heartbreaking moment, the same faith and good humor that have carried him through years of spreading joy didn’t waver.
“I was ready to do Santa in red jogging pants and a red t-shirt if I had to,” Scott said with a laugh. “I couldn’t let the kids down.”
But he didn’t have to. The community made sure of that.
Local residents, photographers he’s worked with during the holiday season, and customers from Charlann Farms and the Fairless Hills Garden Center, along with total strangers who had taken photos with him years before, all stepped forward. Some brought food, others clothing or gift cards. Several even donated Santa suits in his size.
“My full-time job is driving trucks and delivering copiers,” he said. “Even my company’s customers reached out. I don’t even know why; I don’t feel like I’m worthy of all this. But I’m so grateful.”
Now temporarily staying with one of his daughters, Scott continues to put others first. Despite losing his home and nearly all his possessions, he was back in the Santa chair at the Fairless Hills Garden Center just weeks after the fire, determined to keep the holiday spirit alive for the children who look forward to seeing him every year.
“I’m not letting anybody down,” he said. “These kids are expecting Santa, and they’re going to get Santa.”
For many families, visiting “Santa Scott” has become a cherished holiday tradition spanning generations. “I’m seeing the second and third generation of kids now,” he said. “It makes me feel good knowing I made such a positive impact years ago that people bring their kids, and now their grandkids, to see me.”
As he prepares for another Christmas season, Scott says the experience has deepened his belief in community and the true meaning of giving.
“I’m very thankful and humbled by the love we’ve received,” he said. “If the world cared for each other the way this community has cared for my family, there wouldn’t be any problems in this world.”
For Chris, watching the community rally around his brother has been emotional and inspiring. “Scott’s always been the one to help everyone else,” he said. “He’s honest, hardworking, and kind; people trust him. So when he needed help, everyone wanted to give back.”
And give back they did, in a way that has turned heartbreak into hope, and loss into a lesson in love.
“This whole experience shows that the Christmas spirit isn’t just about gifts or lights,” Chris said. “It’s about people coming together when it matters most.”
As for “Santa Scott,” he plans to keep doing what he’s always done, bringing smiles to children’s faces.
“The Santa suits might have burned,” he said, “but the spirit of Christmas can never be destroyed.”
