Maria Frias and her husband didn’t have the resources to provide a Christmas for their four children, including one with a disability, when she reached out to Blue Santa several years ago.
“This program started out of compassion for the children,” said Scott Stephens, board president for the nonprofit Austin Police Operation Blue Santa, which provides toys and food for children of families in need to ensure they have an enjoyable holiday season.
District officers in the Austin Police Department saw the need and started by collecting gifts for 22 families in East Austin in 1972, Stephens said. Now the nonprofit provides toys, books and grocery gift cards for 5,000 Austin-area families, or 17,000 to 18,000 children.
“I will never forget the look on my kids’ faces - the joy!” said Frias, remembering when the presents arrived. “Blue Santa was there when I needed help. Blue Santa made Christmas happen.”
Lisa Davis, who became Austin’s new police chief in October, said: "As a kid growing up in the inner-city of Cincinnati, programs like Operation Blue Santa were a huge part of my life. I know first-hand what it means to receive these gifts and feel the joy they bring to so many. I am so proud to be part of the Austin Police Department, an organization that values its communities and shows up year after year to bring hope, happiness, and Christmas magic to our community!"
New toys and books are collected all year, with the highest need being for infants, toddlers and children ages 11-14. The board also recently bumped up the grocery gift card amount from $25 to $50, which has been a challenge to collect in donations, Stephens said.
Donations are accepted year-round, and volunteers are most needed on distribution day, which is Dec. 14.
“It’s always great to see the Christmas spirit of Austinites coming out to deliver and showing compassion to their fellow citizens of Austin,” Stephens said.
Ways to give
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Volunteer to distribute gifts on Dec. 14. Registration is not required. Volunteers can report to the Blue Santa warehouse at 4101 S. Industrial Drive or select police stations starting at 7:30 a.m. and will receive a list of addresses and the gifts to distribute. Learn more at bluesanta.org.
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Donate new toys at Austin fire stations. For those ages of highest need, age-appropriate learning toys are ideal for infants and toddlers, and sports balls and STEM games are popular for children ages 11-14.
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Make a monetary donation at bluesanta.org/contribution.
“I will never forget the look on my kids’ faces - the joy! Blue Santa was there when I needed help. Blue Santa made Christmas happen.”