AUSTIN (KXAN) — It’s the season of giving, and there are plenty of families and community members in Central Texas in need of some extra holiday cheer this year. For those looking to give back this holiday season, here’s a round up of Angel Tree drop-off sites and Blue and Brown Santa initiatives providing to those in need.
Angel Tree drop-off locations
The Salvation Army Austin has operated its Angel Tree program since 1979, which helps provide Christmas gifts and wishes to children up to 12 years old in the greater Austin area. While the applications for recipients have already closed, there are still opportunities available to adopt angels and volunteer with the organization. Those still needing assistance this holiday season are asked to call 2-1-1 or visit United Way Austin’s website for help.
The Angel Tree program will be collecting unwrapped gifts through Dec. 8 at the following locations.
- The Salvation Army Austin Area Command: 4700 Manor Road, Austin
- Operating 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday through Dec. 20
- Eastside Paddle Club: 979 Springdale Road, Ste. 115, Austin
- Operating 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 9
- JC Penney: 12351 North Interstate 35, Austin
- Operating 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 9
- Lakeline Mall: 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park
- Operating 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 8
- Apple Sport Imports: 11129 North Ranch Road 620, Austin
- Operating 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday through Dec. 8
- Chaparral Ice Skating: 2525 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 400, Austin
- Operating 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Dec. 9
- The Salvation Army Christmas Warehouse: 6510 S. Congress Ave., Austin
- Operating 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7) through Dec. 20
- Barton Creek Square: 2901 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Austin
- Operating 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 8
- JC Penney: 9500 S. I-35, Ste. H, Austin
- Operating 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 9
- High Five Entertainment: 1502 South Ranch Road 620, Lakeway
- Operating 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday to Sunday through Dec. 9
Blue Santa programs
Blue and Brown Santa programs throughout Central Texas help provide for families in need during the holiday season. The programs help collect and distribute gifts and receive monetary donations to purchase toys and food cards.
Here’s a look at some of the programs operating in the greater Austin area.
Austin
The Austin Police Department’s Operation Blue Santa will deliver gifts on Dec. 14 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. for families whose applications were approved. Those interested in helping deliver gifts can visit the following sites by 8 a.m. Dec. 14 for package collections:
- OBS Main Warehouse: 4101 S. Industrial Drive, Austin
- Austin Police South Substation: 404 Ralph Ablanedo Drive, Austin
- Austin Police East Substation: 812 Springdale Road, Austin
- North Austin Delivery Pickup Station: 11909 Domain Drive, Austin in Domain Green Garage
While applications for recipients are now closed, there are plenty of opportunities for community members to donate toys for children in need. Austin Fire Department stations serve as a drop-off point along with the following locations, mapped below.
In addition to the above locations, Austin’s Operation Blue Santa confirmed Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation Select PT has 32 locations in the Austin area also collecting toys.
More details are available online.
Round Rock
Elsewhere in the region, the Round Rock Police Department’s Operation Blue Santa program is in its 46th year. Applications for recipients are closed, but the department is gearing up for its delivery day on Dec. 20, running from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
RRPD accepts new, unwrapped toys, books and wrapping paper yearround, with accepted items including baby toys, rattles, blankets and diapers, dolls, toy trucks and cars, Lego sets and others. A full list of accepted donations is available online, and RRPD also accepts monetary donations to help purchase toys and food cards.
Drop-off locations for this year’s operation are at the following sites:
- Round Rock Police Department: 2701 N. Mays St., Round Rock from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
- All Round Rock Fire Department stations
Businesses and organizations interested in hosting a collection box can find more details online.
Pflugerville
Pflugerville’s Blue Santa will offer pickup services on Dec. 14 at a yet-to-be-determined location. Applications for assistance are available online, as well as more details on collection box requests and volunteer opportunities.
Monetary donations can be made yearround in addition to donations dropped off at the following locations:
- Pflugerville Police Department: 1611 E. Pfennig Lane, Pflugerville
- Pflugerville Recreation Center: 400 Immanuel Road, Pflugerville
- Pflugerville Public Library: 1008 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville
- Pflugerville Utilities Office: 100 E. Main St., Pflugerville
- Pflugerville Justice Center: 1611 Pfennig Lane, Pflugerville
- Homes with Hall Realty: 15901 Central Commerce Drive, Ste. 201, Pflugerville
- Taco House: 104 N. Railroad Ave., Pflugerville
- PfISD Administration Office: 1401 W. Pecan St., Pflugerville
- Because We Care Learning Academy: 1317 Picadilly Drive, Pflugerville
- Farmers Insurance: 821 Grand Avenue Parkway, Ste. 303, Pflugerville
- Pecan Nutrition Spot: 1101 W. Pecan St., Ste. 12, Pflugerville
San Marcos
San Marcos’ Blue Santa Program will provide toys to 420 families and more than 1,000 children this holiday season as the program celebrates its 52nd year operating. Applications for recipients are closed but there will be volunteer opportunities in gift wrapping events.
Toy distribution will take place on Dec. 20 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. at 301 N. Edward Gary St in downtown San Marcos. Donations will be accepted at the San Marcos Police Department as well as by checks made out to:
SMCPA – Blue Santa
The San Marcos Police Department
2300 S. I-35
San Marcos, Texas 78666
Attn: Blue Santa
Donated funds will go toward purchasing toys for the event. More details are available online.
Cedar Park
Cedar Park Police’s Blue Santa will distribute toys on Dec. 14 to families in need. Monetary donations can be made online, while cash donations can be dropped off at or mailed to the Cedar Park Police Department via the following address:
Cedar Park Blue Santa
911 Quest Parkway, Cedar Park, Texas 78613
Toy drop-offs will be collected at these participating locations:
- Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce: 1460 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park
- Integrity Rehab: 14105 Ronald Reagan, Ste. 104, Cedar Park
- Advanced Pain Care: 351 Cypress Creek Road, Ste. 201, Cedar Park
- Cedar Park City Hall: 450 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park
- Cedar Park Library: 425 S. Parkwest Drive, Cedar Park
- Cedar Park Rec Center: 1435 Main St., Cedar Park
- Walmart: 201 Walton Way, Cedar Park
- Walmart: 2801 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park
- Randalls: 1400 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park
- HCCC Game Room: 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 304, Cedar Park
- IOU Foundation: 12365 Riata Trace Parkway, Cedar Park
- Innovative Workspaces: 1205 BMC Drive, Cedar Park
- Toyota Cedar Park: 5600 183A Toll Road, Cedar Park
- Satellite: 1800 Hur Industrial Blvd., Cedar Park
- Hyatt Place Cedar Park: 1315 E. New Hope Drive, Cedar Park
- Popshelf: 11066 Pecan Park Blvd., Ste. A05, Cedar Park
- 1431 Cafe: 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park
Georgetown
Georgetown is accepting Blue Santa applications through midnight on Dec. 9. The annual toy drive provides gifts to more than 2,200 children in Georgetown. Blue Santa Cares collects donations yearround to aid children during the holidays as well as those impacted by natural disasters.
Cash and check donations can be made out to the following address:
CPAAA Blue Santa
c/o CPAAA Programs
3500 D B Wood Road
Georgetown, Texas 78628
The below map outlines toy donation barrels in Georgetown.
Brown Santa programs
Travis County
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office Brown Santa program is accepting applications for this year’s event, with volunteer opportunities available through Dec. 12. The Brown Santa warehouse — located at 6406 Old Burleson Road in Austin — will be closed on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15 for deliveries this year.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Brown Santa program is trying to raise $50,000 in donations this year, per the program’s website. Financial donations can be made via PayPal, Venmo and online,.
An Amazon Wishlist outlines program requests, and other accepted donations are listed online.
Public donation sites are listed below.
Williamson County
The Williamson County Brown Santa program helps between 600 and 800 families each year. Toy and monetary donations are accepted throughout the year, and those interested can “adopt a family” for the holidays and provide gifts. Sponsors for the program can also cover gift cards to be delivered to parents for food and clothing to supplement the children’s gifts.
The nonprofit’s website doesn’t list a specific distribution date for this year’s event, but there are details online for applying to the program, adopting a family and available donation spots.
Hays County
The Hays County Brown Santa Program is accepting applications through 5 p.m. on Friday, or until applications have maxed out. Volunteers can help distribute food and toys, wrap gifts, adopt a family, start a canned food drive or donate toys, wrapping paper or money.
Hays County Brown Santa outlines ways to donate financially via Square or Venmo online, and financial contributions can also be made to:
Hays County Brown Santa
102 Wonder World Dr, #304-564
San Marcos, Texas 78667
Delivery date is slated for Dec. 14 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Details on donation drop-off sites and volunteer opportunities are available online.
