Help ‘Fill the truck’ for Special Santa on Saturday

MAT-SU — Mat-Su Special Santa’s local helpers are in full swing this weekend gathering gifts to share with more than 3,400 Valley boys and girls this year.

Salvation Army will lead a one-day push Saturday to “fill the truck” for the annual gift-giving effort. Look for The Salvation Army bus in the Wasilla Walmart parking lot from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 6.

Walmart and The Salvation Army Mat-Su Corps are working together this holiday season to help provide new toys and coats to local children on Christmas as part of the 124th annual Red Kettle Campaign.

Through Dec. 23, people also may drop off new, unwrapped toys at donations boxes in Denali-Harley Davidson, Spenard Builders Supply of Wasilla, Three Bears Grocery, Valley Performing Arts, Clear Slate Tattoo, Perfect Look Salon, AK. Comp. Dental Ctr., Garden Chiropractic, Walgreens, Image Audio, Essential One, Northrim Bank, and Curves.

Again this year the Christian Motorcycle Association Midnight Son Riders Chapter 801 will collect the gifts and deliver them to Santa’s workshop in the old Palmer Senior Center, 831 S. Chugach St.

Get the forms to apply to participate in the program at Alaska Family Services, CCS Learning, local schools, Mat-Su Health Services, Salvation Army, etc., or people can get the forms online at specialsanta.net. Go to APPLY, read the information for qualifying, and then scroll to the bottom to get the forms. Be sure to do a wish list for each child.

For more information, or to volunteer, contact matsu_santa@yahoo.com.