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The Operation Santa Claus (OSC) and Senior Santa and Friends (SSF) holiday gift drives have served Orange County’s most vulnerable children, seniors and disabled adults for 60 and 30 years, respectively.
OSC began as a small effort to meet the needs of a handful of children in 1962 and has since become a major community event. The program provides gifts and toys to children who are in foster care in Orange County as well as to children of disadvantaged families receiving services from the County of Orange. Last year, OSC distributed more than 19,000 toys and gifts to children in need. This would not be possible without the generosity and collaborative effort of County of Orange employees, community-based organizations, businesses and individuals in the community who play a significant role in collecting toys and gifts.
“The Orange County community has consistently come together for decades to bring cheer to our most vulnerable residents during the holidays,” said Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “If nothing else, the last few years have shown us how much we need one another and how much community support can mean to those in need.”
SSF provides gifts and special request items to low-income seniors or severely disabled adults who are clients of the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) and/or the OC Health Care Agency. Clients receive items such as household appliances, special medical equipment, nutritional supplements or clothing. Items received through SSF help make life easier, more comfortable and more independent for recipients. Last year, SSF provided over 1,115 gifts and necessities to low-income seniors and adults with disabilities in Orange County.
Support from generous donors helped the programs exceed last year’s goal of $30,000 raised. This year organizers are hoping to raise $35,000 in total donations by the end of this year. Orange County residents can support Operation Santa Claus and Senior Santa and Friends by:
- Donating new and unwrapped toys at the collection boxes placed in many County buildings, including most County libraries. In addition, Orange County residents may also drop off toys and other gifts at the OSC and SSF drop-off center at 1505 E. Warner Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705. Gifts may also be shipped to 1505 E. Warner Ave., G-101, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
- Giving back by coordinating an Angel Tag toy/gift drive for a child or senior in need of a holiday present.
- Donating online at:
ssa.ocgov.com/DonateOSC
ssa.ocgov.com/DonateSSF
For more information about Operation Santa Claus, please call (714) 679-2438 or email [email protected].
For more information about Senior Santa and Friends, please call (714) 825-3111 or e-mail [email protected].
