In a couple hours, I’m going to put on my Santa outfit and greet hundreds of kids at the community health center I work at. I’ve been Santa here for several years and it is one of the most important things I do.

One of my other responsibilities is to help with the radio show the health center produces, Conversations on Healthcare. A few weeks ago, our guest was Dr. Leana Wen, the new President of Planned Parenthood. During her interview, she spoke about her efforts as Baltimore’s Health Commissioner to address the epidemic of gun violence. Her words, “Violence is contagious” has stuck with me.

If violence is contagious, what is the antidote? How do we inoculate people against violence? Some of it comes from greeting people with a smile and telling them that they matter. That is what I do when I see children running up to Santa. I tell them I love them. I give them a hug. I don’t ask if they’ve been naughty or nice, that doesn’t seem to be helpful. Instead, I ask them what the nicest thing they’ve done for someone recently is. I keep it positive.

Today as I am greeting kids in Middletown, kids in Newtown are home from school. Some are sad. Some are anxious. On the sixth anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook, students have been sent home after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the school. I wish I could hug each of those kids and tell them it will be okay.

I wish I could hug the kids who were killed six years ago. There is a special list for those beloved of Santa. It includes: Charlotte, Daniel Barden, Olivia, Josephine, Dylan, Madeleine, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, Ana, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Avielle, Benjamin, and Allison.

I can only do so much, so I’m asking your help. Please join me in being an antidote to violence. #LoveWins