Santa Joe

11/10/2022

Looking for something a little different this holiday season? In Minford, OH, you’ll find an Ohio tradition that’s truly something special. The Christmas Cave The Christmas Cave is located in Minford, OH. It features nearly a mile of self-guided displays, both above and below ground in the White...

11/10/2022

Laura Carol Chaille have you seen this display

Looking for something a little different this holiday season? In Minford, OH, you’ll find an Ohio tradition that’s truly something special. The Christmas Cave The Christmas Cave is located in Minford, OH. It features nearly a mile of self-guided displays, both above and below ground in the White...

10/06/2022

Update: when this is shared it is only sharing the first post and not what I just added. I'm not sure what I did wrong.

We thought we found a Santa Joe replacement but he moved out of state so we need everyone to share this post in hopes of finding someone else interested in collecting and distributing toys at Christmas time. In the last few years we usually averaged 150 to 200 children. There is still a real need to help these children have a better Christmas if someone will just offer to step up to the plate.
My wife was a huge help but her COPD intensified last year and this year I pulled two muscles in my left shoulder. We are just not going to be able to continue with Santa Joe from here on.

Unless we find someone soon and the donations come pouring in for them I fear this year's going to be a lost cause.
Lawrence county has come to my rescue more then once and can do it again if someone would just take over.

Please private message me if you're interested or if you just have a few questions and I will get back to you.

Thanks

01/09/2022

I have been trying to write my final post from Santa Joe for a couple weeks now but It's not easy saying goodbye to all the great friends I have met through my ministry.

I want to say it has been a honor to help families that found themselves down on their luck the last 31 years. I was glad to be here to help the children.

With the generosity of Lawrence County residents we ended this year helping 110 children.
Throughout the years I have had some really awesome donations. I have had entire collections of beanie babies, puppets, porcelain dolls and hot wheels to name a few. I have had several ladies crochet toboggan, scarves and doll blankets. I'm also very grateful for all of the donations for my teens.

I want to thank ResourceMFG, Big Daddy Tattoos, Titans Gaming & Hobby, Riverside Antiques and Mitchell Dollar Tree for being drop off locations.

Now for the good news. I have found my replacement and just like the late George Williams, who ran Santa's Helpers, passed the torch to me, I am now passing it to Christian Turner. He is not ready to start his collecting yet but when he is I will announce it. I told Christian I would assist him for the next couple years or until he can run with the torch on his own.

Thanks again for the years of support and I ask you to continue to support Christian in the years to come.

God bless and have a great new year.
Santa Joe

12/20/2021

Author: Joseph Burnette II

I still believe in Santa.
I do because I'm his son.
I've seen Christmas miracles,
plenty, but elves; not a one.
Never had magic reindeer,
Or a fancy flying sleigh.
As long as I remember
An old truck has saved the day.
Never been to the north pole,
or circled earth in an eve.
Because the Santa I know
Is not at all "make-believe."
There's no Hollywood magic,
And there's no ancient folklore.
All the miracles he weaves
Are divine, and nothing more.

His amazing tale began
In year nineteen ninety-one.
A friend could not buy Christmas
And his kids would have had none.
He rallied the neighborhood,
And they stepped up to the plate,
And when Christmas morning dawned,
They had helped not two, but eight!
Santa Joe relaxed, happy,
And pleased with a job well done,
Because he did not yet know
He had only just begun.
When the next year rolled around,
The toys started pouring in.
His phone rang, and rang, and rang.
It was time to start again.
"What is the age and gender?
I will do all that I can."
The phone calls were short and sweet,
But the phone bill ran and ran.
He would go out to his shop:
An old trailer filled with toys.
He would pack box after box
For hundreds of girls and boys.
He still worked ten hours a day,
And spent evenings in the shop.
With no lights, heat, or power,
At sunset he had to stop.
He ate little, and slept less.
As a boy, I was awed.
My own father was powered
By the awesome Grace of God!

And now two decades have passed.
We have helped thousands so far.
The miracles keep coming
and each year we raise the bar.
I've seen nursing homes unite:
Knitting blankets, hats, and scarves.
Awesome hand-crafted puppets.
Whole collections of toy cars.
Crying parents quivering.
All their prayers answered at last.
A family with 7 kids
got something for which each asked.
To keep miracles rolling.
We need you to do your part.
We need more toys, new and old,
And donations from the heart.
So clean out all the toy boxes,
And buy some new if you can.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers
'Cause "Santa" is just a man.

12/17/2021

"UPDATE"
WE HAD A QUICK RESPONSE AND THE NEED IS TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY. THANK YOU

I want to thank everyone that donated to my teens.
I have one more request this year.
A family just moved to the area and they haven't managed to get a tree and the trimmings for it.
If anyone has an extra they wouldn't mind parting with let me know and I will private message you the families phone number so you can get straight with them. I'm way too busy to be the in-between and I DONT want any of this type of item dropped at my drop offs.

12/15/2021

I need the community's help please.
This year I have 26 teenagers on our list. 16 of them are girls and 10 are boys. We don't have enough donations for nearly that many teenagers.
If you can go through your own things and donate fingernail polish, make up, perfume, cologne, hair accessories, billfolds, jewelry, purses, lotions, art supplies, or anything you think a teen could use. It can be new or it can be half a jar of something, they will still appreciate getting it. I will be making a pickup from both my drop off places this Friday at 5:00 p.m. if some of you could have something at these places by then that would be great.
My drop off places are Big Daddy Tattoos in Oolitic on Indiana avenue, they are open Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Titan Gaming and Hobby's on Washington avenue and 29th Street. They are across from where Pappa's restaurant used to be. They are open from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on weekends they're open later.
If these times and places don't work for you send Santa Joe a message and my wife will try to connect with you to pick things up. It's getting close to Christmas so I'm pretty busy.
Thank you

11/26/2021

With Christmas season upon us, I am gearing up for my 31st year as Santa Joe; however, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce that it will be my last.

The past 30 years have been amazing! My wife and I have found so much joy in bringing Christmas miracles to thousands of households and children. My wife, Deliliah, is a really big part of what I do but with her declining health, we have had to make the difficult decision to make this year our last.

We will continue to collect new and gently used toys throughout this season at Big Daddy's Tattoo in Oolitic and Titan Gaming on Washington Ave.

31 years ago God laid it on my heart to take care of the children at Christmas time. He has always provided and guided through all of the donations given by the great people of this county and now I pray God will lay this on someone else's heart where I leave off.

Thank you and God bless you all for believing in me and supporting our cause. It wouldn't have been possible without you.

12/28/2020

https://gofund.me/7909412b

Santa Joe, along with his wife, Deliliah, have been making sure children in our community … Amy Fish needs your support for Santa Joe's Sleigh & Workshop Fund

12/28/2020

With everyone's help 154 children woke up Christmas morning with toys under their tree. If you ask me that took some magic.
I think we had an awesome year. Even with all that's going on the donations came pouring in. When I expressed a need Lawrence County residents provided. New toys, gently used toys and teen items were showing up at Big Daddy's Tattoo, Titan Games and Hobby and Riverside Antiques. We had a Bedford Dr that had a car load, a family friend had 3 boxes of new games and art supplies, IU SIP Cardiology/employees took up a collection of toys.
We even had some added help from Southern Indiana SxS & Center Township Fire Department when they showed up with a whole truck load of new toys for us. This was year 30 and the best year in a long time for donations. We had some cash donations collected from Loughmiller's/employees and Crane Credit Union/employees as well as private donations that's were mailed to us. We had 3 ladies crocheting toboggans, scarves and doll blankets that were absolutely beautiful. Regenerations donated a truck load of gently used toys like they do every year. I know I have missed mentioning some of you because there were just so many great donations so I'm sorry for that.
Thank you all so much. Merry Christmas and God bless all of you for your generous hearts.
Hopefully I'll see you all again in 12 months. This picture is how I spent most of my weekend.