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St. Nick trades sleigh for Harley to lead Burnet County Santa’s Helpers Toy Run

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE

BURNET — Santa Claus is making a test run Nov. 30 along with a few friends, but he’s giving his reindeer some rest as they prepare for the big trip in December.

Instead, the Jolly Ol’ Elf is hitting the road on a “sleigh” most likely bearing the moniker Harley Davidson as part of the fifth annual Burnet County Santa’s Helpers Toy Run. The riders will gather about 8 a.m. at the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office before Santa and his team of biker friends head out to canvass about seven local volunteer fire departments.

“It’s really something to see all these motorcycles with Santa in the lead pull into the fire department,” said Donna Wall of the Spicewood Volunteer Fire Department. “The kids get a big kick out of it.”

Santa will greet the kids at each fire department and let them share their Christmas wish lists with him.

Craig Schlicke of Spicewood, one of the bikers who joined Santa last year, said he is looking forward to another toy run this year.

“This is something that’s for the kids,” Schlicke said. “I think one of the best parts of the ride is when the kids hear those motorcycles start coming in, they all run to look, and then, when they see Santa coming in on a motorcycle, wow, it’s just something.”

The Burnet County Santa’s Helpers provides gifts for children across Burnet County who might otherwise go without. The organization raises funds and accepts donations (both toys and monetary) throughout the year in anticipation of Christmas.

“We’re the only (Christmas toy drive) that serves all Burnet County,” organizer Donna Fritsch said. “And that’s very important because there are a lot of kids out in the (rural parts) of the county who would probably get overlooked at Christmas.”

Wall agreed.

“There are a lot of families here in Spicewood who, if it wasn’t for Santa’s Helpers, their kids probably wouldn’t get a present at Christmas,” she said.

While motorcycles and bikers make up the toy run, you don’t need a two-wheeled steed to participate. People can drop off toys at the participating volunteer fire departments, which include the Bertram Volunteer Fire Department (163 W. Vaughan in Bertram), the Briggs VFD (308 Loop 308 in Briggs), the East Lake Buchanan VFD (101 CR 128 in Buchanan Dam), the Hoover’s Valley VFD (303 CR 118B in Hoover’s Valley), the Granite Shoals Fire Department (8410 RR 1431 in Granite Shoals) and the Spicewood VFD (9805 Texas 71 in Spicewood).

You also can show up the day of the toy run at any of the fire halls for a chance to see the man in red himself. Anticipated arrival times are 9 a.m. at the Bertram VFD, 10:15 a.m. at the Briggs VFD, 11:45 a.m. at the East Lake Buchanan VFD, 1 p.m. at the Hoover’s Valley VFD, 2 p.m. at the Granite Shoals department and 3 p.m. at the Spicewood VFD.

“We have the tree decorated and everything,” Wall said. “The kids really enjoy it. And so do we.”

The 2013 Toy Run is only part of the entire Santa’s Helpers scope. The program is accepting applications to receive gifts for children infant through 18 years of age (if school-age, they must be attending school.) Applications will be accepted Dec. 2-18 and are available at the sheriff’s office, 1601 Polk St. (Texas 29) in Burnet and the Spicewood VFD.

“We serve anywhere from 500 to 600 kids to some years it’s more than 1,100,” Fritsch said.

The organization is always in need of monetary and gift donations. But as Christmas is fast approaching, Fritsch said there is a need for wrapping materials such as tape, ribbons, bows and gift bags.

Volunteers also are needed to help sort and wrap gifts Dec. 16-20 at the sheriff’s office.

Before then, people can mark Nov. 30 down on their calendars and head to one of the listed volunteer fire departments to see Santa roll in on a motorcycle.

“Last year, we had 30 to 35 riders, but, this year, I expect we’ll have a lot more,” Schlicke said.

For information on joining the toy run, call Schlicke at (512) 507-9089.

Call Fritsch at (830) 613-2097 or the sheriff’s office at (512) 756-8080 for more information on the Burnet County Santa’s Helpers.

daniel@thepicayune.com