Donations sought to give kids a Merry Christmas
It’s time once again for local public- safety personnel to partner with Blue Santa and make the holidays merry for families in need.
Though St. Nick’s red outfit may be a different color, the goal remains the same: Ensuring children in Kendall County have a great Christmas.
The collection of new, unopened toys for children through age 15 is underway, according to Kendall County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kevin Klaerner, who once again is heading up this year’s Blue Santa effort.
The annual toy drive is a collaboration involving the Sheriff’s Office, the Boerne Police Department, the Boerne Fire Department, the Fair Oaks Ranch Police Department, Hill Country Family Services, American Legion Post 313, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 688 and the Boerne Independent School District.
“The volunteers pick out the toys for each child, doing so with love.”
— Lt. Kevin Klaerner, Kendall County Sheriff’s Office
“We’re asking our amazing community to donate new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls, infant through 15 years old, or gift cards from local businesses in Boerne or Comfort,” Klaerner said Last year, Blue Santa served 900 children, brightening Christmas day for more than 450 families, sponsors said. That number marks a record, and by Dec. 1 about 140 children were already registered for this year, officials said..
“By far, it’s our largest community outreach program, and it continues to grow, which means the need continues to grow,” Klaerner said. “And regardless of how big the need is, this community continues to step up and meet the need.”
A large room at the Sheriff’s Office holds the hundreds of donated toys divided into age groups: newborn-1, 1-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-11 and 12-15 year old.
Volunteers sorting the toys receive slips of paper listing family members, their ages, and a Christmas wish list for each child. Each volunteer then tries to pair the procured gifts with the appropriate age group where the goodies end up piled on, under and around the tables waiting to be handed out.
Applications for recipient families will be accepted through Dec. 15 at either the Sheriff’s Office, 6 Staudt St., off Adler Road, or Hill Country Family Services, 118 W. Advogt St., near Boerne Cemetery.
Families only need to fill out one application, so a trip to both is not necessary, Klaerner said.
In addition, donations and gift cards can be left at these sites.
Dec. 15 is also the dropoff date for submitting toys. Toys should be new, unopened, and unwrapped, to allow volunteers to pair them with children’s wish lists.
“None of this would be possible without the support of the community,” Klaerner said.
Hint on gift-giving: “Shop for the age of your kids, or your grandkids. That’s the best way to know what toys are most age-appropriate,” he said.
The hardest age group to fill, he said, is always older teens.
“We’re always hurting for toys for the older kids,” he said. “If we don’t have many things on the shelves for the older kids, we’ll give them gift cards for shopping.”
Donors can drop off their donations at any of the following Blue Santa collection sites through Dec. 14:
• Boerne Police Department, 124 Old San Antonio Road, Boerne
• Boerne Fire Department, 726 N. Main St, Boerne
• Fair Oaks Ranch Police Department, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn Road, Fair Oaks Ranch
• Black Rifle Coffee Co., 101 S. Main St., Boerne.
• Apache Rifle Works: 101 N. Main St., Suite B, Boerne; and 50502 Interstate 10 West, Comfort
“These toys didn’t just ‘appear,’ community members specifically went and bought what they felt was a great toy, out of love,” Klaerner said. “The volunteers pick out the toys for each child, doing so with love. The parents wrap these gifts with love.”
Families will come to the Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 20 at pre-appointed times, where volunteers will man the drive-thru. Visitors also can enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, Christmas caroling, meet with law-enforcement members and then pick up their assigned bags of toys.
Any community members or groups wanting to volunteer can contact Klaerner at 830-331-8823.
A post on the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page says, “Your generosity truly makes a difference. Every toy, every gift card, and every smile matters. Let’s come together once again and show what makes Kendall County so special.”
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