Deputy Santa collections now in full swing

Deputy Santa collections are now in full swing as members of the four Chamber of Commerce Royalty Courts have started collecting toys for all age groups.
The groups gather gifts from newborns to ten-year-olds, according to Lavaca County Chief Deputy and Deputy Santa Coordinator J.R. Peters.
“It’s important to keep the program going. I asked if the Royalty Court can help as we have many donors that do different things,” Peters said. “We’ve already received monetary donations. We provide toys for nearly 250 children. Along with the toys, we also are doing canned goods for the elderly.”
Donations were collected already at Hallettsville’s Festival of Lights on Nov. 25. More donations will be collected at Yoakum’s Christmas on the Grand, Dec. 2; Shiner’s Christmas in the Park, Dec. 3; and Moulton’s Christmas on Main, Dec. 9.
Each member of the Royalty Court is looking forward to collecting donations along with donating themselves.
“Deputy Santa is an event I look forward to every year because of the smiling faces on children, parents and the elderly,” Miss Hallettsville Shalyn Harrell said. “It is absolutely heartwarming. I’m very blessed to be able to be a part of helping our communities have the best Christmas possible. This year we get to share the joy with our surrounding counties’ royal court, as they will be in attendance to help take donations.”
Miss Shiner, Dallyn Pesek, said service has been a large part of her life since she was a child.
“My parents taught me that giving back is why we are here on this Earth and I’ve had great examples watching my siblings serve others,” Pesek said. “Deputy Santa is one way for the Lavaca County Royalty Courts to help spread joy to the children. We hope to continue to work together doing other service projects throughout the year.”
Deputy Santa is all about showing the magic of the holiday season, according to Miss Moulton, Alyssa Jasek.
“In today’s world, we all need a little magic in our hearts and this helps keep it alive for children,” Jasek said.
Gabrielle Rodriguez, Miss Yoakum, said she hopes others will value the significance of this donation. “It’s during the Christmas season in rural communities where people may face difficulties, and that’s why I feel it’s important to give back to the community through such initiatives,” Rodriguez said.
Along with each Christmas events, donors can drop off items at the following locations: Tribune-Herald office, Steele Door Realty, and the Edward Jones office in Hallettsville; the Herald-Times office in Yoakum; the Shiner public Library, Shiner Chamber office and the Gazette office in Shiner.