Mental Health AssociationOperation Santa Claus

Some people living in area facilities might not have a Christmas if it weren’t for the Mental Health Association in Wayne County. Since 1960 the Association sponsors Operation Santa Claus to get gifts to individuals who are in rest homes or Goldsboro care facilities. About 15 care facilities will receive gifts after providing the Association with the names of individuals and what gifts that they would like to receive, along with their sizes. Gifts may be a robe, gown, pajamas or a sweatsuit; some even want a radio or something else they can use. One facility resident even requested a pineapple cake one time because he hadn’t had one in years. 

Some of the recipients are elderly. But some are young people with disabilities who are in a facility. The Mental Health Association started Operation Santa Claus because its members recognized that there were many people at Cherry Hospital who never had visitors, and no one ever gave them anything special for Christmas. That made the Association more aware of the fact that there were those in the community who were also more or less forgotten and didn’t get any recognition. This was their way of trying to give them something special that they would like, whereas they might not get recognized at Christmas.

Donations are due by Dec. 10 and can be mailed to the Mental Health Association in Wayne County, Operation Santa Claus, P.O. Box 1476, Goldsboro, N.C., 27533. MHA-WC is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are deductible subject to IRS guidelines.

For more information about the program call 919-734-6026.