Blue Santa Program
(Seguin) — Blue Santa doesn’t want trick or treating to be the only thing on parents’ minds this week. This week also marks the start for the Seguin Police Department Blue Santa application process.
For over 30 years, the Blue Santa Program has helped to ensure that all kids find gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.
Hope Vasquez, who has served as Blue Santa’s top elf for the last several years, says the applications are now available at various locations throughout the area. She says the program helps to ensure gifts for all children in Guadalupe County age 12 and under. Vasquez says this year, the department is expecting to assist even more families.
‘According to the records from last year, we had 322 families. We had 900 children and we wrapped 2,700 gifts in three nights. So, I believe that the numbers are going to be higher than 300 families and of course more children and the gifts, we will do the best that we can. If we can’t provide them with more than two, then we will do the best that we can with what we get from the donations,” said Vasquez.
Of course, the first step for all families is to apply. Vasquez says there are several documents that families must bring with them to complete the process.
“We have about 14 locations. They can come to either one of them and a list will be provided to you so they can look over and make arrangements because some places do require an appointment time slot. The documents that they need to bring with them is a current photo ID or a driver’s license. It does have to have a picture with name and address. I understand that some agencies might be backlogged in trying to get driver’s licenses current but they need to bring some photo ID that is current and includes the address that they are at. They need a proof of residence, contract, an apartment, a house or a lease – a proof of income or they can meet one of the requirements that we have in the application and also all children must be living with a parent. It can’t be that they are living with grandma unless that person has the guardianship or has the authority to make those decisions on those children,” said Vasquez.
Vasquez says families are also reminded to provide all the most current information on their application. She says any information provided should also be updated as needed during these next two months.
“We also need to have working phone numbers. Sometimes, there’s an error or a correction needs to be done on the application and the application won’t be processed unless those things get corrected and we are asking something new as well, an email address. So, if we can’t get a hold of you on your phone, we do want a working email and again, if there’s two families living in one household, only one application is acceptable because it will flag it in our system and our system only has it for one address,” said Vasquez.
Vasquez says with everything going on throughout this pandemic, she felt it was important that they get a head start in the application process.
“I believe that because of what we are going through right now together as a nation, as a worldwide pandemic, I feel that there is still going to be families still suffering with job loss or their income is not there to provide gifts for the children so I felt that by moving it one week early, we will start thinking of the plans for the future. I know we are not in Halloween yet and we are already thinking about Blue Santa but that’s the reason why. I want to get the word out in time because our deadline is Dec. 11, a Friday. I don’t want to miss any families out there that might be needing or hurting or they might be thinking that they will not be able to provide anything for their children during this Christmas holiday,” said Vasquez.
Some of locations accepting applications include Ball Early Childhood Center, Community Council of South Central Texas, Family Life Center, the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson and Patlan Elementary Schools, the Seguin Housing Authority, the Seguijn ISD Administrative Office and the Seguin Police Department. Other countywide locations include St. Vincent de Paul in Marion and the Centro Esperanza in San Marcos.
Those with specific questions regarding their family are asked to call 830-401-2386 or email bluesanta@seguintexas.gov.
The deadline to apply is noon on Friday, Dec. 11.