Operation Santa Claus Toy Drive Begins Monday
Posted: Nov 30, 2011 8:56 AM
Updated: Dec 8, 2011 4:19 PM
The annual toy drive, Operation Santa Claus, will hold its kickoff event on Monday, November 28, at 10:00 a.m. at Townsquare Media, located at 6341 Westport Ave. in Shreveport.
Operation Santa Claus is a collaborative endeavor of the Shreveport Fire Department, Shreveport Police Department, Bossier Sheriff's Department and Townsquare Media to provide Christmas toys to disadvantaged children in the Bossier and Caddo Parishes.
During the kickoff Monday, law enforcement officers, firefighters and radio personalities will join Santa Claus in providing toys to young boys and girls. Santa will be riding to the radio station in a big red fire truck while being escorted by law enforcement officers as he brings his goodies to the children.
Hundreds of other needy children who officers, firefighters and deputies have signed up to receive gifts this year will have their gifts delivered to them later in December.
Citizens can help meet the need of a toy for a disadvantaged child this Christmas season by providing an unwrapped toy or donating monies to OSC. Support by folks in northwest Louisiana over the past years has been phenomenal and is instrumental in putting a smile on a child this Christmas.
OSC will be holding radio remotes at various locations the first two weeks in December, each remote from 7 - 9 a.m.: Dec. 1, Boomtown Casino; Dec. 6, Maddox and Hughes Insurance, 401 Hamilton Road; Dec. 8, Geauxcicles, 3970 Youree Drive; and Dec. 13, The Joint...The Chiropractic Place, 6658 Youree Drive. People are encouraged to join OSC coordinators by giving gifts or monetary donations during these times. You can also contribute by calling 687-GIFT (687-4438), or finding out other ways at the OSC website, www.OSCcaddobossier.com.
In addition, officers, firefighters and radio personalities from Townsquare Media will visit children at two hospitals as part of the "Barney Cannon Smile Run" on Dec. 15: Shriner's Hospital, 9:30 a.m. and Schumpert Sutton's Children's Hospital, 11:00 a.m.
Since 1984, Operation Santa Claus has been making wishes come true and putting a smile on little faces of children in the area over the Christmas season.