Another Successful Holiday Program for Santee Santas

By Sam Modica

The Santee Santas Foundation 2012 Holiday Program was another huge success. We helped 211 families and seniors along with 396 children in our community have a great holiday season by providing the fixings for a holiday meal along with enough staple items to last each family about 2 weeks. 

According to our sign in sheets, we had 173 volunteers on December 12, 13, and 14, for sorting food; 92 volunteers on December 15th for packing the family boxes; a total of 97 volunteers for toy selection and wrapping; and 85 volunteers on December 20 for deliveries.  That is a total of 447 volunteers.  Thanks to all our volunteers. Without you, Santee Santas could not successfully carry out our holiday program each year. 

Additionally, we would like to thank the following local businesses for providing food and beverages for our volunteers during delivery day and other events during the holiday season:  Karl and Melina Zeitsen from Eccentric International Chefs; Duane Parks of Coffee Corner; Larry and Kathy Clark of Santee's Pizza; George and Nancy Oriotis of Roundtable Pizza; and Ryan and Janis Deady of Santee Oggi’s Pizza and Brewing Company.

Santee Santas Board of Directors would like to extend a “special” thank you to Ryan and Janis Deady of Oggi’s for their generosity to Santee Santas – not only did they donate pizzas to feed our volunteers on Delivery Day and host a fundraising event to raise money for us, but also for donating coupons for each of our 211 families to enjoy a “free” pizza from Oggi’s Santee. 

2013 will be Santee Santas Foundation 60th anniversary and we are hoping to have an anniversary celebration sometime this spring or summer.  Watch the Chamber of Commerce weekly newsletter and Santee Patch for more information on this event.