ST. GEORGE — Activity was high at the Dixie Center St. George Friday afternoon in preparation for the grand Santa run – actually 100 runs – that brought Christmas to children from one end of Washington County to the other.
At 4 p.m. cars, trucks and motorcycles began pulling into the Dixie Center St. George. It was the great Kony Coins for Kids gift delivery, the last phase of this year’s installment of a 26-year program aimed at bringing joy to thousands of children who may have otherwise gone without this Christmas.
After months of fundraising, weeks of organizing and days of frenzied activity, a convoy of cars, trucks and motorcycles loaded with gifts left the Dixie Center in red and white – Santa style.
Vehicles of all types were loaded with bags of gifts, each bag containing the number assigned to a particular family. The drivers were provided with a route taking them to the homes of four or five families.
Many volunteers participating in the deliveries have been involved for years. Lynn Spafford, owner of Malibu Cleaners St. George, started volunteering for Coins for Kids with Carl Lamar back in 1990 when Lamar asked him if he could help out with cleaning the Santa suits. Today, Spafford is is an assistant coordinator of wardrobe, Lamar said.
The experience of going to a home and delivering presents to kids for Christmas is what this is really about. Second-year volunteer Santa, Ramon Rivera, said it serves two purposes.
“It feels great,” Rivera said, “to help all of these kids that need help.”
Rivera’s wife, Crisann, said she believes this experience is teaching their two children to give back to the community and to help children in need.
“We are a firm believer, my husband and I, on teaching our kids the true meaning of Christmas,” she said. “Not just about what we get, but what we give.”
For some volunteer Santas one route wasn’t enough, and several returned to the Dixie Center to have their vehicles loaded up again.
At the end of the day the Santas returned to the Dixie Center – for another wardrobe change … until next year.
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Bags of gifts cover the floor of Dixie Center St. George awaiting delivery to kids in the Kony Coins for Kids program, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Carl Lamar checks suits twice as Santas begin to arrive for wardrobe, Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
L-R: Lynn Spafford and Carl Lamar. Spafford, owner of Malibu Cleaners in St. George, has cleaned the Santa suits for Kony Coins for Kids events since 1990. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers , St. George News
Volunteers choose Santa suits before making deliveries in the Kony Coins for Kids program. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
The big red bag can go anywhere when Santa's delivering toys with Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Santa and the elves line up for assigned delivery routes with the Kony Coins for Kids program, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
L-R: Volunteers dressed as Mrs Claus and Santa Claus await gifts before making deliveries for the Kony Coins for Kids program. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Santas and elves pose for a picture, Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
A very special helper Savannah Chidester, a 5-year veteran volunteer of Kony Coins for Kids charity program. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Two Santas and a family of elves help out with gift deliveries for Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
The big red bag can go anywhere when Santa's delivering toys with Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Mrs. Claus takes charge in getting everyone ready to leave with bags of gifts in the Kony Coins for Kids event. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Everyone's getting involved in the Kony Coins for Kids program. This photo shows a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse, a local organization at the Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Mrs. Claus takes charge in getting everyone ready to leave with bags of gifts in the Kony Coins for Kids event. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Every Santa helps out in the Kony Coins for Kids event at the Dixie Center St. George. St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George New
Volunteers help Mrs. Claus get things ready at the Kony Coins for Kids delivery day. Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Checking it twice to make sure the gifts are ready for delivery with Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Santas huddle before making deliveries with Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Santa's sleigh isn't always red when delivering toys with Kony Coins for Kids, Dixie Center St. George, St. George, Utah, Dec. 18, 2015| Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George New
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Cody Blowers was raised in South San Francisco, California. A 2013 graduate of Colorado Technical University, Cody earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in paralegal studies. Through the course of her academic studies she discovered that writing is her true passion, and she is committed to providing credible, integrated news coverage. Cody joined St. George News in 2015, and when she’s not busy chasing the news, she can generally be found chasing her young granddaughter, Kali.
I saw a Santa on a Harley yesterday wearing his biker patch.
Another kool aid drinking idiot. drink that Kool Aid. go out there and celebrate a lie !
Amen