San Marcos Police Department’s Annual Blue Santa Toy Drive Kicks Off

Since 1972, the San Marcos Police Department’s Blue Santa program has been providing toys to local children who might not otherwise have gifts for Christmas.

The San Marcos Police Department is kicking off its annual Blue Santa toy drive and is now accepting monetary donations and new unwrapped toys through Dec. 14, 2017.

Monetary donations and toys may be delivered to the San Marcos Police Department, 2300 S IH-35, in San Marcos.  Organizers appreciate all donations but request no stuffed animals for this year’s toy drive. 

Blue Santa will also be partnering this season with Five Below in San Marcos at 750 Barnes Dr. and in New Braunfels at 251 Creekside Crossing. Toy collection barrels will be located in each store.  

Since 1972, the San Marcos Police Department’s Blue Santa program has been providing toys to local children who might not otherwise have gifts for Christmas. Each year the Blue Santa program gives gifts to 300-400 families. 

Applications

Applications for Blue Santa are available at the San Marcos Police Department, 2300 IH-35, and Southside Community Center, 518 S Guadalupe Street. Applications can also be found online at http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/496/Apply.  The deadline for return of all applications is Dec. 11, 2017 at 5 p.m.

Volunteering

Blue Santa gift wrapping begins on Nov. 14 at 750 Barnes Drive Suite 100 (between Target and JCPenney). Volunteers are welcome and needed to wrap or package toys from 6-9 p.m. on one of the scheduled dates: 

• Tuesday, Nov. 14       
• Tuesday, Nov. 21                               
• Tuesday, Nov. 28       
• Tuesday, Dec. 5          
• Thursday, Dec. 12
• Monday, Dec. 19

Toy pick up will be Friday, Dec. 22 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at 750 Barnes Drive Suite 100 (between Target and JCPenney). People who come to pick up their toys will be entered into a drawing for a free Kindle tablet when they turn in their application approval card. Drawings will be held every hour on pick up day, and winners who are not present when their name is drawn will be contacted.

Toys will be delivered by police officers on Saturday, Dec. 23 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. for those unable to pick-up their toys.