Staff Report
Brown Santa
The Hays County Brown Santa program is looking for “Christmas elves” to assist with its annual money, canned goods and toy drive that will assist local families in need.
The program consists of volunteers from the community and Hays County Sheriff’s Office. Last year, over 650 families were given assistance in food and/or toys throughout the county. Due to COVID-19, toy shortages and food price increases are expected to create difficulties for the program, so the community is encouraged to help as much as they can.
Families seeking assistance can pick up an application at one of the locations below until Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. Families can pick up their food and toys on a designated day, time and location; the program will also deliver to homes on Dec. 18 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information will be given when signing up.
The program will operate out of 4200 S IH-35 Suite #200 in San Marcos. Toy donations are being accepted for all age groups up to 16 years of age. Donated toys can be dropped off at one of the locations listed below, or arrangements can be made for pickup.
The deadline for donating unwrapped toys is Dec. 10 and wrapped toys on Dec. 13. Toys will be wrapped on Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Dec. 13 and 14 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Children are welcome in the warehouse to help; masks are at each individual’s discretion and social distancing is encouraged.
Money contributions in the form of a check or money order should be made payable to “Hays County Brown Santa” and mailed to P.O. Box 1475, San Marcos, TX 78667. Money contributions can also be made on Venmo or the Square which can be found on the Hays County Brown Santa Facebook page.
If you are interested in making a cash donation or becoming a volunteer, contact Lieutenant Dennis Gutierrez at (512) 393-7877 or [email protected].
Application pick-up and food/toy/application drop-off locations:
San Marcos
Hays County Sheriff’s Office: 810 South Stagecoach Trail
Southside Community Center: 518 S Guadalupe St
RBFCU: 1203 Thorpe Ln & 1210 Wonder World Dr
Austin Telco Federal Credit Union: 904 Bugg Lane
Edward Jones Office: 133 W. San Antonio Street Suite 200
Kyle
Pct 2 Justice of the Peace Beth Smith: 5458 FM 2770
Fox Pizza: 147 Elmhurst Dr
StorQuest Self Storage: 5500 FM 2770
RBFCU: 20613 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd
Buda
Pct 5 Justice of the Peace Lucinda Doyle: 500 Jack C. Hays Trail
Austin Telco Federal Credit Union: 330 Old San Antonio Rd
Falcon International Bank: 1795 Main St
RBFCU: 5045 E Goforth St
Wimberley
Pct 3 Justice of the Peace Andy Cable: 14306 Ranch Road 12, Suite 11
Dripping Springs
Pct 4 Constable Ron Hood: 195 Roger Hanks Parkway
RBFCU: 1040 Rob Shelton Blvd
Blue Santa
Kyle and Buda police departments are seeking community assistance for their annual Blue Santa programs which will benefit local families in need this holiday season.
Kyle’s Blue Santa program is asking for unwrapped toys for children 0 to 14 years of age, as well as rolls of wrapping paper. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 3 in the Kyle Police Department lobby, located at 111 N Front St. Applications can also be picked up in the lobby and returned in the drop box marked “Blue Santa Applications.” Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Buda’s Blue Santa program incorporates the “Shop With a Cop” initiative where officers are paired with underprivileged children in Buda for a day of shopping at Walmart, followed by lunch. More information will follow as command staff finalize details.
