Santa’s Toy Express begins another year with bigger expectations and a new slogan: 49 at D 49. Only three short years ago, this program was developed to help children and their families with special circumstances in School District 49. School transportation employees were gathered and tasked with the vision of a school transportation department that gave back to the community. The need is large in an area with the fastest growing school district in the state.The children are selected at each elementary school based on their individual needs. Once the children are selected, their parents are called to obtain permission to participate in the program. The work then begins to determine the size of every child so that a new winter coat can be found. Kmart searches the city for the perfect coat, while also providing enough Christmas wrapping paper and supplies for all presents purchased during the shopping spree. Along with Kmart’s financial donation to defray the cost of a $30 gift card for each child, the store manager helps select each child’s individual present. Employees then wrap all the presents, ensuring they are ready to be placed under the Falcon transportation tree.The children are picked up at their homes by a school bus on the morning of the event and shuttled to the transportation lot. Santa arrives by fire engine, compliments of the Falcon Fire Protection District. Over 60 volunteers are required to make this program run smoothly from its beginning to end. As the children come off the bus, they are immediately assigned to a sponsor supplied by Shriever Air Force Base, the Falcon fire department and the Falcon transportation employees. Santa’s helpers prepare a sausage and pancake breakfast, supplied by Safeway and Farmers State Bank, before leaving with Santa for a special shopping trip.Children and sponsors are taken by sleigh (school bus) to Kmart where they shop for presents for their families. Once their shopping is finished, they return to the transportation lot where their presents are wrapped while they visit with Santa. Horizon Middle School students also volunteer as elves in charge of wrapping presents. The children receive their own specially wrapped present along with a new winter coat. A $25 food gift card is included with their packages for their family Christmas dinner. The transportation employees also provide their own special gifts and baked goods prepared especially for the children.The need is extremely large this year, as it costs a minimum of $100 per child. Our goal of $5,000 is raised through the giving of the community and our school employees. One-hundred percent of all donations raised are used for this program; there are no administrative expenses. You can help us make a difference in your community by sending your check to the Santa’s Toy Express in care of the Falcon Volunteer Fire Department at 10850 Woodmen Rd., Falcon, CO 80850.
