WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Since Thanksgiving, those living in Houston County may have seen Santa Claus riding around town atop his sleigh: a large red firetruck wrapped in Christmas lights. In truth, this Santas Claus is working with a local nonprofit group, Southern Santa, and taking donations for those in need.
On Friday, Santa Claus and Southern Santa saw the culmination of their work when they watched 10 families in need receive Christmas gifts for their children. Southern Santa Co-Founder Lori Usinger told The Journal a bit more about what led to this point.
“All throughout the year, we cover families that have been touched by tragedy, housefires, things like that,” Usinger said. “We provide them with necessities.”
From the day after Thanksgiving to Dec. 23, Southern Santa rides throughout Houston County with Santas Claus, letting children see Santa and accepting donations from those who can give.
“We take emails in November and December from families who aren’t able to provide a Christmas for their children or their families, because of some tragedy,” Usinger explained. “We go through those, and we make sure that we get everything together, give them a date and provide their Christmas for them.”
This year will mark Southern Santa’s third year of community work. Starting during the pandemic, the initiative began as a way to provide some cheer to those who needed it most, taking on a few families to assist. As they’ve grown, so too has the amount of families they’ve been able to help.
“It’s very humbling,” Usinger said. “It reminds you that there are people that can’t provide for their kids — no fault of their own, things happen. Then you look at the kid who’s really excited because of something they got.
“They’re excited and they’re happy, and you remember that’s why you spent that whole month working and working and getting out and getting what you needed for them — because no matter what, a child deserves to have a Christmas.”
These gifts range from diapers and wipes to bikes, play-doh, cribs, clothes and shoes. All of it comes from donations.
“[We do it] for the kids,” Usinger said. “Because at some point in everyone’s life, they’re going to have hard times.
“I think it’s important to remember that no matter how high you are on the mountain, you got there from the valley. To me, that’s important: to remember that you’ve been there, and make sure that somebody else has what you had to go without, or that you had to ask for assistance for.”
Shortly after The Journal’s interview with Usinger, Mr. Claus arrived, as well as the 10 families, to enjoy some Christmas joy together. They opened their gifts, made merry and enjoyed time together away from the cold and harsh wind.
In the next year, Southern Santa will continue their work. The nonprofit will continue to serve families throughout the year by providing necessities to families struck by hardship, and after Thanksgiving, Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick will climb aboard his fire engine once again.
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