"The Gem of the Texas Hill Country"
"The Gem of the Texas Hill Country"
Kendall County, Texas
On the County's website, officials describe Kendall County, Texas as, "the gem of the Texas Hill Country." Without a doubt, we are. However, I believe that is an understatement. We are so much more than that. When I think about the folks who live within our county, the terms generous, charitable, benevolent, dedicated, and supportive all come to mind. These characteristics of our communities are never more prevalent than the time of year leading up to and during the holiday season. We are communities of selfless people who consistently step up when needed to do so to help someone a little less fortunate than ourselves!
For us at the Kendall County Sheriff's Office, one of the most important contributions we make to those less fortunate during the holiday season is the Blue Santa Christmas Toy Drive. This holiday program was started over two decades ago to provide Kendall County families in need with help to provide their children with Christmas gifts that they may not otherwise receive. Back then, as a State Trooper assisting the Sheriff's Office, we would deliver gifts to families throughout the county in our patrol cars. Today the program has grown so much that delivery of gifts by uniformed officers is not practical. Families now come to the Sheriff's Office on a designated date to pick up their gifts. It has evolved into a major production of lights, music, dressed-up characters and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause to help emphasize the spirit of the Christmas season. As part of this production, again this year, we are working in partnership with Boerne Police Department, Boerne Independent School District, Hill Country Family Services, Boerne Community Coalition, Rainbow Senior Center, American Legion Post 313, and Boerne Hope For Heroes to help serve the needs of our community.
In 2020, through the generosity of business and private citizen donations, the program supplied gifts to more than 430 children. This year, we expect the need to be greater, and our volunteers stand ready to ensure our 2021 event is even more successful than the last. Last year our dedicated volunteers donated over 450 hours of their personal time to ensure these children experienced an outpouring of love from a community that consistently works to ensure their holiday is special.
This is one of the largest community events the Kendall County Sheriff's Office is involved with throughout the year. Families in need can come by the Sheriff's Office or Hill Country Family Services and complete an application to receive gifts for their children this holiday season. The deadline to submit applications is December 7, 2021. To help as many families as possible, the Kendall County Sheriff's Office does not accept applications if the family is registered for assistance with other agencies or organizations.
Interested members of the community can volunteer to help in a variety of ways. If you like to shop, the program needs new, unwrapped toys for children from infant to 17 years of age, and gift cards from local businesses. As always, we also need volunteers to help both before the event to organize the gifts and during the event to help distribute gifts. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please call Kendall County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Kevin Klaerner at (830) 249-9721.
Donations must be received no later than December 7, 2021, and may be dropped off at any of the following locations:
Kendall County Sheriff's Office
6 Staudt St, Boerne, TX 78006
Kendall County Elections Office
221 Fawn Valley, Suite #100, Boerne, TX, 78006
Black Rifle Coffee
101 South Main Street, Boerne, TX, 78006
Blue Sky Self Storage
105 Shooting Club Road, Boerne, TX, 78006
Apache Rifleworks
50502 IH 10 West, Comfort, TX, 78013
Hauptstrasse Barber Shop
108 E San Antonio Ave, Boerne, TX 78006
Texas Timber Frames
613 TX-46, Boerne, TX 78006
Texas Heritage Bank
1208 A Main St., Boerne, TX 78006
Personal checks can be made out to the "KCSO Foundation" with a special notation on the memo line showing, "Blue Santa Christmas Toy Drive."
This year's event will be a drive-through event, held on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at the Kendall County sheriff's Office Law Enforcement Center from 5 p.m. until distribution is complete. The Kendall County Sheriff's Office would like to thank all those willing to either dedicate their time and/or funding for this vitally important community support program. We would especially like to thank our long-time sponsors the GVTC Foundation and Cavender Cares for their continued support.
The generosity of people across Kendall County never ceases to amaze me! The KCSO is proud to serve and protect the communities that make up Kendall County!