Blue Santa returning to assist kids with Christmas shopping

The Blue Santa program is gearing up for another year of granting Christmas wishes as local police officers and first responders take children shopping who otherwise might have a lean Christmas.

Whataburger in Mineola will continue its role in the program along with 22 sister stores in East Texas, donating one half of all sales from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

So don’t be alarmed by flashing lights in front of the restaurant on N. Pacific St.

Donations can also be made directly to the officers on hand.

The officers and their charges will descend on the Mineola Walmart on Tuesday, Dec. 17 for their shopping spree.

Each year the children are delighted to find that, yes, they can buy anything in the store they want.

Last year the shopping sprees were around $400 each for 65 kids.

The program was begun in 2019, when the shopping sprees were $100. Since that time about $75,000 has been raised and 200 children assisted.

The Wood County First Responders Association was formed as a 501(c)3 non-profit to handle donations.

Donations can be made through PayPal, CashApp and City National Bank and will soon be available with Venmo.

The officers are President Cody Castleberry, Mineola ISD police; Treasurer Dusty Cook, Mineola police; Secretary Seth Capps, Mineola ISD police; and directors Donivan South, Mineola police; Guy McKee, Quitman police; and Mike Hurst, Mineola ISD police.