Operation Santa Kicks Off Final Stage
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: November 11, 2012
TWIN CITIES- Operation Santa is in full packing mode.
It's been collecting items for troops since September, now volunteers are busy putting everything in boxes to ship overseas.
The man playing Santa at the event is actually a former solider himself.
"You know you just can't get Girl Scout Cookies over in Afghanistan or Iraq. You know a lot of the things that we have here are things soldiers need," said Bradley Nauman who now serves on the Operation Santa board after serving overseas.
Operation Santa is getting ready to send at least 20,000 stockings overseas filled with things like cookies, candy, beef jerky, tissues and other items.
Volunteers stand in an assembly line stuffing stockings, sealing them and then boxing them to ship.
In charge of it all is Sharon McCauley, President of Operation Santa.
"We have it down to a science," she said.
McCauley is also a military mom and says she knows how much of a difference a stocking can make.
"They're deployed so far from home and family at the holidays and they need a little Christmas cheer," McCauley said.
Nauman said his family always sent him packages when he was overseas, but that wasn't the case for everyone.
"I saw a lot of my friends not getting anything from anyone, you know. Some people in the military believe it or not don't have any family that actually sends stuff," Nauman said.
He said it's not just the food and other treats that raises a soldiers spirits.
"Really, just the thought is really more or less what it's all about. The fact that people know that you're out there and haven't forgotten you."
Volunteers will pack up stockings through Wednesday. That's when the post office comes to pick them up.
It's been collecting items for troops since September, now volunteers are busy putting everything in boxes to ship overseas.
The man playing Santa at the event is actually a former solider himself.
"You know you just can't get Girl Scout Cookies over in Afghanistan or Iraq. You know a lot of the things that we have here are things soldiers need," said Bradley Nauman who now serves on the Operation Santa board after serving overseas.
Operation Santa is getting ready to send at least 20,000 stockings overseas filled with things like cookies, candy, beef jerky, tissues and other items.
Volunteers stand in an assembly line stuffing stockings, sealing them and then boxing them to ship.
In charge of it all is Sharon McCauley, President of Operation Santa.
"We have it down to a science," she said.
McCauley is also a military mom and says she knows how much of a difference a stocking can make.
"They're deployed so far from home and family at the holidays and they need a little Christmas cheer," McCauley said.
Nauman said his family always sent him packages when he was overseas, but that wasn't the case for everyone.
"I saw a lot of my friends not getting anything from anyone, you know. Some people in the military believe it or not don't have any family that actually sends stuff," Nauman said.
He said it's not just the food and other treats that raises a soldiers spirits.
"Really, just the thought is really more or less what it's all about. The fact that people know that you're out there and haven't forgotten you."
Volunteers will pack up stockings through Wednesday. That's when the post office comes to pick them up.
