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From now until December 3, you can be a Secret Santa to a child or senior in need.
HOUSTON – Having presents at Christmas is not a guarantee for many families, especially children in our area. But you can change that by donating to our KHOU 11 Secret collection of Santa’s toys.
For Apolos Kahsay, Christmas is the most magical time of the year.
“I get clothes, pants, shoes and whatever gifts I want,” Kahsay said.
Kahsay is one of 12 children and every year on Christmas morning they wake up to find presents under the tree – all thanks to the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.
Their father, Berhane Asgedom, knows that without the Salvation Army, Christmas wouldn’t be so bright.
“We are a big family. It would have cost us more than thousands,” Asgedom said.
Asgedom’s family arrived in the United States as refugees in 2016. Their time here was not the easiest. One of their daughters, Sesinna, was killed aged 8 in a hit-and-run accident a few years ago.
But this Christmas, they may feel a little more joy than pain with the help of a gift from Secret Santa.
“I love that they are part of the community. They feel loved and cared for because they never miss it – receiving gifts every year from the Salvation Army,” Asgedom said.
Inside Santa’s Workshop Salvation Armyvolunteers are already preparing gifts for the Asgedom family, but there are another 800 children and elderly people, also called angels, who have yet to be adopted.
“Adopting older people is much more difficult,” said Major Carolynn Webb, Area Commander of the Salvation Army Houston. “It’s harder; many people like small children.
Webb said older people often feel embarrassed to ask for help.
“It’s really difficult because a lot of them are proud,” she said. “They’ve worked all their lives and now they’re in a situation where they need help.”
This year, of about 1,600 Houston-area seniors, only 800 were adopted, according to Webb. The deadline to adopt is December 4.
“Oh, sometimes it’s heartbreaking because they just walked in and they’re crying,” Webb said.
How you can donate
Now until December 3, you can be a secret Santa for a child in need by donating new, unboxed toys to participating sponsor locations shown on the map below.
If you can’t get to a drop-off location, toys and cash donations can easily be made online.
Virtual Telethon
On Thursday, December 1, from 3-7 p.m., we’ll be hosting a virtual telethon to help us reach our donation goal!
Last year, we were able to raise $102,000 in monetary donations and toys for families in our area. Let’s do it again this year, and make sure no child wakes up on Christmas morning without a toy under the tree.
Thank you for making the holiday season brighter for those in need and for helping us defend Houston!