Sanitation Santas Give Christmas Gifts to Families in Need – FOX23 News

BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma. – Employees of the City of Broken Arrow’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department started a program called Sanitation Santas over 40 years ago.

Employees pooled their money to provide Christmas gifts for Broken Arrow children in need.

Sanitation Officer Bill Cade started raising awareness: “A lady was kicked out of her home and had just moved into a hotel with two children. ”

“We gathered some money and bought as many presents as we could with a little Christmas tree and brought it to the hotel, and this woman literally collapsed on the floor sobbing. And what do you say? ”Cade said.

Now other departments are also getting involved, sponsoring children or families to make sure they have a merry Christmas.

Local schools are working with the group to determine which children would benefit the most. Parents then create Christmas wish lists for the chosen children, and Sanitation Santas buy, wrap and deliver the gifts to families before Christmas Eve.

The group takes no credit for themselves: “The point is, we don’t want to take the best Christmas times away from parents because they are the ones who have been raising them all year round,” Cade said.

“If you ever do it once and see people who have no way of getting help and settled down with the fact that they just won’t have Christmas,” Cade said. . “For me, it’s horrible. You know, and so when we can help people, they’re so thankful. “

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