About the Blue Santa Program

The Blue Santa program was established in 1984 when Houston police officers were dispatched to a shoplifting call.  Upon arrival, the officers were notified that a man was shoplifting to provide Christmas gifts for his children. Although the officers had an obligation to fulfill their duty, it did not stop the man’s story from touching each of their hearts.  That day, the officers raised a collection of toys to help make the man and his family’s Christmas one that would not be forgotten.  It was then that other HPD officers noticed how many families financially struggled and could not provide gifts for their children. Wanting to make a change, the officers started the Blue Santa Program to help make the Holidays special for these families. 

The mission of the Houston Blue Santa Program is to build a stronger bond between the Officers of the Houston Police Department and the community we serve. The program is funded by officers who choose to donate out of the kindness of their heart in order to participate in the program. Blue Santa focuses on giving toys to children in our communities who are in need and for a variety of reasons, will most likely not receive any toys during the Christmas season. The officers who participate are given bags of toys so that they can give the toys out to families that they have picked to sponsor.