Help ‘Gary Claus’ bring holiday gifts to kids

Mason District residents are invited to help “Gary Claus” (Det. Gary Moore) bring holiday joy to local children.

For the past few years, Moore has donned full Santa gear to deliver toys and pajamas to kids in some of the area’s neediest communities.

This year, Gary Claus will be at the Culmore Community Center, Wadsworth Court, and Parkwood Court on Dec. 17 and 18.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys, pajamas, and slippers for babies, children, and teens can be dropped off at the Mason District Government Center at 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale and the Starbucks at Barcroft Plaza, at 6365 Columbia Pike through Dec. 11.

There are many more ways to contribute to the community during this holiday season:

• Fairfax County law enforcement agencies’ annual Santa’s Ride campaign collects new unwrapped toys, games, and books for children at Inova Fairfax Hospital and the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center and for other children in the community who might not otherwise have a cheerful holiday season.

Santa will join the Fairfax County police department’s Motor Squad on a cruise to various schools, including Holy Spirit School, Saint Ambrose Catholic School, and Oakwood School in Annandale.

New gifts can be brought to those schools or to any Fairfax County police station by 9 a.m. on Dec. 12.

• The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is participating in the Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any Fairfax County fire station through Dec. 11. No toy weapons, please.

• Communities in Schools of NOVA is hosting a winter jacket and food drive event on Dec. 15, 4:30-6 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School. For information, contact Calvin Anderson, [email protected].

• Realtor Vivienne Couts is again conducting a pajama and sock drive for kids. New, unwrapped items can be dropped off at several locations, including her home at 7041 Bradley Circle, Annandale, and the Mason District Government Center. PJs and socks for donation to the program can also be ordered from Amazon.

• The Police Department’s Victim Services Division is collecting gift cards for child victims and witnesses of domestic and sexual violence and children who lost loved ones due to homicide. Gift cards to places like Giant, Safeway, Walmart, TJ Maxx, Target, Kohl’s, local restaurants, and clothing stores allow parents to purchase practical items or gifts for their children.

Drop off or send gift cards by Dec. 16 to Sally Fayez, Victim Services Section, 12099 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA, 22035.

• The Fairfax County Senior Centers’ Winter Warming Service Project, now in its fourth year, collects new and handmade hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves for adults and children.

Donated items are given to local nonprofits – Cornerstones, ShelterHouse, and HumanKind Foster Care – which distribute them to their clients, including individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Donation boxes will be in the lobbies of the county’s senior centers through Jan. 6.

• Help aspiring Eagle Scout Daniel Belloni meet his goal of collecting 100 adult-sized, gently used coats for ECHO (Ecumenical Community Helping Others). Coats can be dropped off at the Braddock District Supervisor’s Office/Kings Park Library at 9002 Burke Lake Road in Burke, or email Daniel at [email protected] to schedule a pickup.

• The Fairfax County’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Services office is collecting $25 gift cards for survivors of domestic violence. The gift cards can be for grocery stores, gas stations, and big-box stores, as well as Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Mail the cards by Dec. 9 to Vanessa Cullers at the Domestic Violence Action Center, 4000 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 2702, Fairfax, VA 22030.

• New Hope Housing, which operates the Bailey’s Shelter & Supportive Housing in Bailey’s Crossroads, is accepting gift cards to help adults in homeless shelters shop for themselves.

The nonprofit prefers $25 cards for Target, Walmart, Giant, Safeway, and Aldi. The cards should be mailed to NHH Gift Cards, Attn: Jan Sacharko, 8407-E Richmond Highway, Alexandria VA 22309. Contact Jan at 703-799-1193, ext. 27 or [email protected].