While families pull their holiday decorations from storage, local law enforcement is gearing up to share holiday cheer with families in need.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office and police in Kyle and Buda are asking for gifts or monetary donations to launch their holiday programs.
Hays County Sheriff’s Brown Santa is seeking money from residents and businesses – donations of toys, canned goods and money. Last year, more than 400 families were given assistance with food and/or toys in Hays County.
Brown Santa is accepting new toys for children up to the age of 16. Any toy that is already gift-wrapped needs to have a tag that identifies the toy, age group, and if it is for a male or female. Toys can also be picked up from your residence or business if convenient. Monetary contributions are accepted in the form of a check or money order made payable to "Hays County Brown Santa" and mailed to: Hays County Brown Santa, P.O. Box 1475, San Marcos, TX 78667.
The deadline for accepting unwrapped toys is Dec. 13, and for wrapped toys, Dec. 14. Toys will be wrapped on Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. until to noon and on Dec. 16-17, from 5 to 8 p.m. Brown Santa headquarters is located at 4200 IH-35, Ste. 100 in San Marcos (across the interstate from the outlet malls and behind Hat Creek Burgers). Children are welcome to come and help out.
Buda’s Blue Santa program is otherwise known as “Shop with a Cop,” allows children, identified by the local school counselors, to shop with police officers for Christmas presents for themselves and their families. The program relies on monetary donations to fund the children’s shopping needs.
Any assistance is greatly appreciated and all contributors will be recognized on the city’s website and other platforms unless the donors prefer to remain anonymous.
Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Buda Police Department, 405 E. Loop Street, Bldg. 200 in Buda from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or mailed to the BPD, Attn: Blue Santa. Buda’s zip code is 78610.
Kyle Police Department’s Blue Santa event is hosting three wrapping parties at 520 E. RR150 Kyle in the Public Works training rooms. Toys can be dropped off through Dec. 3 at the Kyle Police Department, 111 N. Front street. The KPD is also accepting new bikes and toys for children ages 0 to 14. Presents will be presented on Dec. 14, 4 to 6 p.m. at Wallace Middle School, located at 1500 W. Center Street.
