Sheriff’s Reserves and volunteers bring Santa to Carson City homes Christmas Eve
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Sun, 12/24/2017 - 11:16pm
Bright eyes and wide smiles by the dozens shined Sunday night as Santa Claus made his way though the capital city after sunset Christmas Eve, carried by patrol vehicles in a caravan led by the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Reserve Organization.
A half dozen Santas and a host of volunteers dressed as his helpers made their way to more than 60 homes on Christmas Eve, a 36-year tradition with the sheriff’s office reserve.
Arriving at front doors, neatly wrapped packages were already waiting for Santa to deliver. During the first week of December the sheriff’s office reserve sends a notice out with a hotline number for adults who want their children to experience a visit from Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Names and addresses are exchanged with plans for a visit.
Santa also made a visit to Carson Tahoe Hospital and its children’s ward, providing kids there with gifts and wide-eyed, hopeful smiles.
Each year the Santa Reserve program brings in sheriff’s office volunteers to staff it, with this year seeing six donning the Santa suit and six reserve deputy drivers, said Tom Crawford, Carson City Sheriff's Office Reserve Commander, who has coordinated the program for the past 15 years.
Santas this year were: Jaime Carillo, Cristian Diarte, Randy Watkins, Nick Mcgahuey, Tim Hope and Ed Brown.
All walks of life are represented in this event, from single-parent families in Section 8 housing to families of modest means, the program is a reflection of Carson City’s diversity.
“We’re always asked how we keep this going. Well, we’re a smaller agency and a smaller town and so that gives us the opportunity to have a big outreach and an opportunity to do things like this,” said Crawford. “It is a way for the Sheriff’s Office to reach into the community, much like the annual trick or treating at the Governor’s Mansion, and do something special that people wouldn’t ordinarily think about.”
Reserve Officer Guy Jessop has participated several years, either donning a Santa suit or a Grinch suit. This year he chose to be a driver of Santa instead. His wife, Karen, was a Santa's helper.
"It’s about bonding and being a part of the community,” he said. “It’s a chance to get in there and show them that we’re human and a part of the community."
Volunteer Santa Jaime Carillo has participated in previous Christmas Eve Santa visits, calling it “a special moment and a special holiday for the kids” that he enjoys.
“Anything to bring joy to the kids,” said Carillo. “Those little kids will be ecstatic to see Santa Claus."
Ed Brown, father-in-law of Deputy Jessop, participated Sunday in his first reserve Santa program playing the man in red. He was indeed touched by what he saw.
"It’s tough watching sick kids in the ER on Christmas, but they were happy to see Santa," said Brown. "My heart goes out to them."
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