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The Dripping Springs Knights of Columbus have once again stepped up to support the Hays County Brown Santa program, a charitable initiative that provides food and toys to families in need during the holiday season.
Jimmy Winkler, a member of the Knights of Columbus, recently delivered pallets of canned green beans and corn to the Hays County Precinct 4 office in Dripping Springs. These donations will help provide Thanksgiving meals to families participating in the Brown Santa program.
“This is our seventh annual year of giving back to Brown Santa,” Winkler said. “It’s an outreach to people needing assistance … During the holidays, families get together, which is very important whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas. This allows us to help those already struggling get through the season without taking on more debt. We want them to enjoy Thanksgiving too. It is a good way for us to buy into our own community and give back.”
The Hays County Brown Santa program, run by volunteers from the Hays County Sheriff ’s Office, the Hays County Citizen’s Sheriff ’s Academy Alumni Association, and others from across the community, provides food and toys to hundreds of families each year. Last year, the program supported more than 650 families across Hays County.
The food collected by the Knights of Columbus, along with other donations, is transported to the sheriff ’s office in San Marcos, where it is distributed to families who participate in the program. Each family receives a meal package that includes canned green beans, corn, a ham, and a turkey, along with one toy for each child. Toys are age-appropriate and are selected for children ranging from toddlers to teenagers.
The Knights of Columbus also encourage community members to get involved.
For more information about the Hays County Brown Santa program, visit hayscountybrownsanta. org. For more information about the Dripping Springs Knights of Columbus, visit dskofc.org.
