Merry Christmas Thanks to Operation Santa Claus

KWKH  thanks everyone who donated toys or money to buy toys for Operation Santa Claus.  This year's task of providing new toys to local less fortunate children in Shreveport-Bossier was a bit daunting on the outset as we had 975 children for whom to provide.

But the exciting news is YOU DID IT! A couple of weeks ago, it looked impossible. We had some 500 and something kids left on the list without toys.

In fact, Mary Coburn with Shreveport Police and Jeff Williams, fire inspector for Shreveport Fire, told me they were literally praying for a miracle, and that God provided it.

There were big donations like the $3,000 check from the North Shreveport Business Association, which also donated some $800 worth of new toys.

And our drop off locations were so helpful this year, especially Topps World of Western.  They brought over loads of toys to be distributed to needy children here.

By the time it's all said and done, every child on this year's Operation Santa Claus gift list will receive what they asked for from Santa - bicycles, tricycles, big wheels, wagons, baby dolls, hot wheels cars, easy bake ovens, transformers, remote control cars with rechargeable batteries  - it's definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

A special thank you also to some KWKH listeners who came to the rescue..Dottie Lord with a $125 donation and Tim Rutherford, who brought a cool red remote control "Audie" and a "Baby Alive" baby doll.

Tim also brought me a new LSU ball cap to wear during this year's BCS Championship Bowl game featuring the No.  1 Tigers against No. 2  Bama  Jan. 9th.

This was also the first year I got to participate in the Operation Santa Claus remotes as well as the Barney Cannon Smile Run.

I enjoyed seeing you up close and personal and tagging along with Kaye Cannon and Shreveport Police and Fire and especially Kelly Downey with Bossier Sheriff's Department.  It was a real eye opener for me to watch them along with Santa put some big smiles on the faces of children in the hospital.

What a blessing! After this year's experience with Operation Santa Claus it's changed the way I view Christmas now.  It's not just about me and my husband providing Santa for our three children.  It's now about me helping to provide Santa and a smile  for Shreveport-Bossier's  needy kids.

Along with the toys and the smile comes the love from your heart and that's something that Jesus brought us that first Christmas long ago. It's the gift that will keep on giving all year long.

Merry Christmas and thank you from the Home of the Legends, AM 1130, KWKH.  Operation Santa Claus was a big success this year thanks to YOU!

Operation Santa Claus