TOWNSEND — VFW Post No. 6538 and its Auxiliary is looking forward to bringing joy to numerous families in Townsend on Christmas Eve 2022 through its Santa Claus Program. The Townsend VFW Post and Auxiliary began having a Santa visit children in Townsend between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve more than 40 years ago. The Santa delivers a small gift provided by the family to the children who had been signed up for the Christmas Eve Santa Claus Program.
Town residents have been informed about the program in previous years through a Postal Patron mailing in early November. Due to a very limited number of volunteer Santas initially available, the letters were not sent out this year. Once information about the of possibility of running the program in 2022 was spread through the newspaper, social media, and the Townsend Public Library, a number of Townsend families signed up for a Santa to visit their home this year on Christmas Eve .
Although the Townsend VFW Post and Auxiliary still do not have as many volunteer Santas as they have had in past years, they are going to be able to visit many Townsend homes on Christmas Eve. With the recruitment of additional Santas, they are now able to accept some additional requests for a Christmas Eve Santa visit on a first to sign up — first to be included basis until they reach capacity.
Any interested Townsend family should immediately complete the Townsend VFW Santa Survey which can be found at https://forms.gle/PgkLehz3M5BKRWZX8.
Those whose Townsend home can be visited on Christmas Eve 2022 will be advised that there will be a Santa available to visit them and the size and necessary preparation of the gift(s) and when and to whom to turn in the gifts.
