What is Blue Santa? Blue Santa is the community organization that sponsors toys for needy children at Christmas. It is administered by the Troy Police Department and community members. When Troy Blue Santa was organized or shortly thereafter, First Baptist Church of Troy was asked to host the Troy Blue Santa program.
Troy Blue Santa is involved in various fundraising events and hosts a toy drive in Troy ISD in November. Community members also participate in toy donations at various businesses or through organizations as well. The ingathering of the toys occurs the week of the event. The toys are delivered to the church and stored until Wednesday night (Dec.17) when they are organized and displayed on tables in the Fellowship Hall following the Wednesday night services in preparation for "shopping" on Thursday, Dec.18 .
Needy families in the Troy Community submit applications for assistance with Christmas gifts for their children to the Troy Police Department. The review of the applications and approval process is the responsibility of the Troy PD Blue Santa representative and the Executive Committee of the Blue Santa Community members. The names of the families are CONFIDENTIAL outside of that group. The applications include suggested toys and clothing sizes for the children in need.
Needy families in the Troy Community submit applications for assistance with Christmas gifts for their children to the Troy Police Department. The review of the applications and approval process is the responsibility of the Troy PD Blue Santa representative and the Executive Committee of the Blue Santa Community members. The names of the families are CONFIDENTIAL outside of that group. The applications include suggested toys and clothing sizes for the children in need.
Members of our church volunteer to set up tables and sort toys on Wednesday evening, shop on Thursday, and wrap gifts on Friday. Some also participate in the toy drive or give offerings designated for the Troy Blue Santa program.
On Thursday, December 18, the enlisted shoppers are assigned a family to shop for the items on the application. First, they shop for TOYS from the donated items in the Fellowship Hall. The shoppers then go to a designated store to shop for the CLOTHING items on the list obtained from their guardians. (Those items are paid for via money donations from the fundraisers and other donations - if you look at the church's financial report at business meetings, you will see a line item for Blue Santa.)
On Friday December 19, community members gather in the Fellowship Hall to wrap all the gifts. Usually there is a wrapping session in the morning and again in the evening. The gifts are kept in groups by family and moved to the sanctuary in preparation for pick up by the families on Saturday, Dec.20. NOTE: The church does not participate in the Saturday family pickup event in order to maintain confidentiality for the families involved.
On Friday December 19, community members gather in the Fellowship Hall to wrap all the gifts. Usually there is a wrapping session in the morning and again in the evening. The gifts are kept in groups by family and moved to the sanctuary in preparation for pick up by the families on Saturday, Dec.20. NOTE: The church does not participate in the Saturday family pickup event in order to maintain confidentiality for the families involved.