Bastrop's Blue Saints and Blue Santa toy drive helps those in need during the holiday season

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's the season of giving, and not everyone in Central Texas can get that perfect present without help. That's where Bastrop's Blue Saints and Blue Santa toy drive comes in, which gives toys to those who need them for the holiday season.

Bastrop Independent School District Police Department Sgt. Kayla Barner and Bastrop Police Department Sgt. Chris Chavez interviewed with KXAN's Will Dupree to talk about the program and how both departments are able to provide gifts for those in need.

For anyone who would like to donate to the program can email Chavez at cchavez@cityofbastrop.org or email Barner kbarner@bisdtx.org. Barner said volunteers can also show up Saturday to be an elf, as the program will have cookies and cocoa with Santa.

Read a transcript of the interview below or watch in the video player above. Some responses have been edited for clarity.

Will Dupree: We mentioned the name of the program that both of your departments are able to provide. But can you talk to us about what kind of needs those programs meet?

Kayla Barner: There's a tremendous need for these types of programs in our community and within the Bastrop ISD student population. Without our assistance, there would be many, many children without gifts under the tree this year. And after reading some of the lists, we asked them to fill out their wish list of what they'd want for Christmas. And after reading some of those, there's just so many things that we take for granted. Some of these kids are asking for bed sheets, blankets and just basic hygiene needs. So the blue saints and blue Santa program is very important because we can make a difference and make these kids get The Essentials as well as the toys that they're asking for this year.

Dupree: So you're saying that some of these children are asking for more than just another toy, right?

Barner: Yes, that's right.

Dupree: Wow, okay. So this year, are you seeing more needs and more requests for help compared to previous years?

Chris Chavez: Absolutely, I know last year with the city, we only had 75 applicants total. This year, we have over 415 applicants.

Dupree: Okay, so talk to us about how you're meeting that need. What do you need from the community as well?

Chavez: Any donations, monetary or toys, are well appreciated and needed. We also are looking for volunteers to help with distribution, wrapping gifts. We have a VIP program, which is volunteers in policing. That's how we utilize those folks, and we can use them for anything and everything throughout the year. We also take donations throughout the year as well.

Barner: Same here with us. Anything that they want to do for Saturday's event; they still have time to go pick up some toys, blankets, anything like that would help. Because even though they pre-apply, and we have over 400, we always do get a few kids that come in that that were not on our list, and we're not going to turn anybody down. So if anybody can bring us an unwrap toys, anything like that. That would be great.

Dupree: Everything would be appreciated, I'm sure so to both of you, though, could you talk about, you know, how this makes you feel whenever you're able to be able to help some of these families in your own communities?

Chavez: You know, throughout the year, our officers participate in numerous community events. But the Blue Santa and the Blue Saints program, is by far one of the most rewarding, and it hits home for many of the officers that we have. The holidays tend to be a real magical time of the year, and this program enables our police officers to partner with members of the community and to help ensure the families that are having a difficult time can still give their little ones a positive experience this holiday season.

Barner: Yeah, and this is something that I got started here at Bastrop ISD back in 2021, so this is going to be our fourth year with the Blue Saints, but our first year to pair up with Bastrop police department. But, but, you know, both of us, we serve the same community. Our community is a little different because, you know, we have the our student population that we're taking care of, but you know, same, same with them. It's all about helping our community.