Project Santa: A Garner family tradition for 70 years and counting 🎅

It all began almost 70 years ago with a $25 bonus check my grandfather received.

He used the check to buy a baby doll for a little girl in need. Now, that check has turned into so much more.

Project Santa was born and the charity has grown to serve more than 700 children in the Denton area and eastern Rowan County in North Carolina, my hometown.

Project Santa provides toys for school-aged children, clothing and food to families in need on Christmas Eve, and it’s my absolute favorite family tradition!

My father, Keith Garner, is the Project Santa Coordinator. My family and I have worked so closely with him and my Grandfather on this charity every year since I was born! :)

My mom, dad, grandfather, and a few others spend countless weeks before Thanksgiving all the way up to Christmas Eve checking out each family individually, accessing their wish lists, and then SHOPPING for allllllll of the toys!

I love, love, love this family tradition so very much. The children are absolutely precious — I love getting to know them!

I’m gonna share some stories from years past that have stuck with me, and hopefully they make you smile and laugh as much as they make me smile and laugh!

One year, we had a Santa shortage, so guess who had to play Santa — ME!

It was pretty believable until the pillow fell out of my suit, and my hat fell into a cow pie... and I had to put it back on. I was carrying a TV when this cutie RAN outside yelling OMG SANNNNNTAAAAAAA... lunged at me, and that TV went FLYING and crashed down! Santa had to run back to the North Pole and get another one! #oops I remember I gave the kids lots of life advice like “remember to share,” “don’t be uncool” and “follow your dreams.”

I had to play Santa on short notice, it’s the best I could do!

Then another year, Cousin Andrea (my all-time favorite) walked into a home as an Elf, as we do, and she noticed a parakeet flying freely around...well that parakeet flew RIGHT into her heavily hair-sprayed hair, got stuck, and she ran outta that house like an Olympic track star, shaking her head until it finally flew out! She was SUCH a good sport about it, and we still laugh about it every Christmas!

The “sleighs” are various vans that get donated by local car dealerships or other Churches.

One year I was the designated elf who drove the sleigh, a 1998 Chrysler T&C with a malfunctioning sliding door! I took a turn a little too fast and sharp, and the door slid right on open, and out three boxes of toys went!

When I went to turn the “sleigh” around, I hit a curb and the tire went flat! #whoops Santa was a little late to the houses that night!

Another time, I was driving the Sleigh with my cousins and my brother- and I guess...err...no, I KNOW I pulled into the wrong driveway, because when I went to the door to knock and say “Santa’s here!” a lady started screaming “KENNY, I SWEAR TO GOD ILL SHOOT YOU I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN — WE’RE DONE!”

I started sprinting back to the van yelling “I’M NOT KENNY, IT’S PROJECT SANTA!” Then, I was like “UNLOCK THE VAN DOOR,” but they rolled down the window instead, and I DOVE in! She approached the van, packin’ heat, and she goes, “You’ve got the wrong house, it’s a block that way!”

Close call!

A few years and counting, Project Santa served 551 children, or 223 families.

Over the last three or four years, we’ve averaged between serving 500 to 550 children.

What it comes down to is this time of year, bills and normal living expenses are of priority for some parents and after those bills are paid there isn’t much left for Christmas toys.

Some families may not need toys for their children but may need food or a winter coat. Our charity collects food and clothing throughout the year and makes it available for families in need.

It’s a beautiful blessing that God gave us the ability to keep the charity going.

It’s so lovely to see my mom & dad do what they do and work together. I hope to keep it going for generations to come.