COLUMBUS — Deputy Santa came to the Colorado County Fairgrounds in Columbus on Dec. 16 and had a steady stream of kids and kids-at-heart take pictures with Santa. The kids received Christmas presents after a visit with Santa. All went jolly well with most of the children. Some took exception to the man in red and some took equal exception to a ne’er do well, the Grinch.
Over 375 kids were registered to receive gifts through the Deputy Santa program. The last time Deputy Santa came, the kid count was around 250. More families are being pushed to the brink of poverty as inflation and the cost of necessities increase as the paycheck decreases in purchasing power.
Many businesses and individuals realized the need and stepped up to make this one of the most successful Deputy Santa programs. To help realize a child’s dream of receiving a Christmas gift, the event would not have been possible without the many volunteers it takes to pull off something of this magnitude.
When all is said and done, and the countless smiles that were counted, the Deputy Santa team can’t wait until next year.
