Deputy Santa became an active “member” of the sheriff’s office in the fall of 1999.  The program, similar to that of metropolitan Richmond’s Sgt. Santa, is intended to provide Christmas for underprivileged children within our local community. 

The Deputy Santa program is funded by private and corporate donations; the major funding source is an annual golf tournament, organized by Inv. Ronald Hudson with help from several staff members.  

Names of recipient children are discretely obtained from several sources in the community.  Bus drivers, county employees and local ministers have asked that Deputy Santa provide Christmas to 12-15 children each year.  Last year the program provided also a decorated Christmas tree, gifts and food for a destitute family of four. 

A volunteering sheriff’s deputy either arranges to take the child out Christmas shopping, or gets the child’s wish list and fills as much of it as possible; either way, Deputy Santa makes his visit around Dec. 20.  Typically, each child receives a significant gift (often a bicycle), winter coat and shoes, games and stocking stuffers. 

Deputy Santa visited 125 children for Christmas 2007!

If you know of a child who may not have a Christmas, please contact Sheriff Crockett or any member of his staff.  Deputy Santa wants to help every child enjoy the reason for the season!