BY KYLE BARNETT

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE- “Santa for St. John” is kicking off their annual drive to provide Christmas gifts to needy children.

St. John residents are asked to bring toys to donation boxes at the following locations by December 14: Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Dredging Supply, St. John Physical Therapy, River Parishes Hospital, Business Solutions Inc., Songy and Associates, Family Home Care, RTC- Reserve Telecommunications, Iberia Bank, Cottman Transportation, Saint Optical, BT Country Club and American Corporate Mortgage.

In addition to gifts, monetary donations are welcomed. Matherne’s and Bull’s Corner will be selling paper ornaments bearing the donator’s name to be hung on an in-store tree. Ornaments are $1 each. In the past Bull’s Corner has risen over $1,000 for the effort.

Director of the program Penny Freeman says “Santa for St. John” served around 300 children last year and is set to serve even more this year.

The list of children is gathered from local churches and community groups as well as the St. John Sheriff’s Department and CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates.

“The list we compile has the child’s name age and sex,” said Freeman. “We didn’t do that the first year, but learned really quickly that 12-year-old boys don’t like Barbie dolls.”

Freeman says the group used to have a much larger crew who worked on it before Katrina.This year, however, she will be getting some extra help. The LaPlace Rotary Club and students from East St. John High School will help gift-wrap the toys.

Distribution of the gifts will take place December 21.

If you would like to help or know a child who should be on the list, “Santa for St. John” can be reached at 651-4200.