A group of area students help with the 2012 Brown Santa program through the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. Brown Santa is again looking for help to collect, wrap and deliver toys and other items to more than 800 needy families this year. (Courtesy photo)
Submitted Report
With more than 850 families receiving assistance last year in Hays County, the Brown Santa program from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office is hoping to meet or exceed that goal this holiday season.
The program accepts new toys, wrapped or unwrapped, for children up to age 16. Brown Santa also collects canned goods and accepts donations, which allow sheriff’s deputies to purchase toys for children in need.
Volunteers from the sheriff’s office and the community are involved in the effort – organizers say more volunteers are always appreciated.
The deadline for accepting unwrapped toys will be December 13, 2013 and for wrapped toys December 16, 2013. Wrapped toys should be labeled with the age and gender for the toy.
Volunteers will wrap the toys from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 14. Children are welcome to help in the warehouse. Deputies and helpers plan to deliver the toys and food on Dec. 21 between 7 a.m. and noon.
A family requesting assistance from Brown Santa may sign up in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office or at one of the locations below. The deadline for accepting applications is 5 p.m. Dec. 12.
Those interested in assisting in the Brown Santa program or making a cash donation may contact Lieutenant Dennis Gutierrez, who has coordinated the Brown Santa program for the past 20 years, at 512-393-7877.
Brown Santa Dropoff locations:
San Marcos:
Hays County Sheriff’s Office (1307 Uhland Road)
Southside Community Center (518 S. Guadalupe St)
Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union
Austin Telco Federal Credit Union (904 Bugg Lane)
Kyle:
Pct 2 Justice of the Peace (5458 FM 2770)
Fox Pizza (147 Elmhurst Drive)
Plum Creek Self Storage (5500 FM 2770)
Buda:
Pct 5 Justice of the Peace (500 Jack C. Hays Trail)
Buda City Hall (121 Main Street)
Austin Telco Federal Credit Union (330 Old San Antonio Rd)
Falcon International Bank (1795 Main Street)
Wimberley:
Pct 3 Justice of the Peace (14306 Ranch Road 12, Suite 11)
Dripping Springs:
Pct 4 Justice of the Peace (195 Roger Hanks Parkway)
Monetary contributions in the form of a check or money order
made payable to “Brown Santa” should be mailed to:
Brown Santa; P.O. Box 1475; San Marcos, TX 78667
