On Tuesday, November 19th Kim Franchione and Susan Tuberville will officially inaugurate the 2002 Operation Santa Claus drive at a 2:00pm press conference held at the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation central office in Montgomery.

Montgomery’s First Lady, Lynn Clardy Bright will join Mrs. Franchione and Mrs. Tuberville in the kicking off of this year’s version of the 50-year traditional gift drive. Operation Santa Claus was started in 1952 by MHA volunteer Alice M. Kidd.

DMH/MR Commissioner, Kathy Sawyer, stated, “I am so pleased to again extend our support to Operation Santa Claus, it is so important that everyone be offered the opportunity to enjoy the cheer and blessings the holiday season has to offer.”

Darold Dunlavy, Executive Director of the Montgomery Mental Health Association, said, “We are excited and appreciative of Mrs. Franchione’s and Mrs. Tuberville’s participation in the campaign. There are many individuals with mental illness and mental retardation who would virtually go unnoticed if it were not for Operation Santa Claus. We hope that our 50th anniversary drive, with the support of the coaches wives, will be the best ever.”

“Donors are asked to include their name and address with their gift or on a string tag so their contribution can be properly acknowledged,” Dunlavy said. He also noted that financial contributions will be accepted. MHA volunteers will purchase gifts with the donations. Make checks payable to “MHA/Operation Santa Claus 2002.” All gifts must be delivered to the MHA in Montgomery by Monday, December 16, 2002 at 4:30 p.m. "Donors are asked to contribute prior to that time to facilitate delivery of all gifts in a timely manner,” Dunlavy said.

GUIDELINES

• Gifts should be new and unwrapped. (Clothing should be machine washable.)

• Donors are asked to please include their name and address on a separate piece of paper or string tag so the MHA can express its thanks. (Gifts will be anonymous to the recipient.)

• Financial contributions are appreciated. MHA volunteers will purchase gifts with donor contributions. Make checks payable to “MHA/Operation Santa Claus 2002.”

• Types of gifts that are needed for women include: dresses, gowns/pajamas, skirts, purses, scarves, panties, cosmetics, hair rollers, blouses, slacks/jeans, dusters/robes, pantyhose and slips. All clothing sizes are needed, but particularly XL and up.

• Types of gifts that are needed for men include: shirts, overalls, handkerchiefs, after shave lotion, shaving cream, belts, ties, jeans, bathrobes, belts, slacks, and underwear. Again, all clothing sizes are needed, but particularly XL and up.

• Acceptable unisex gifts include: sweaters, jackets, wallets and billfolds, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, postage stamps, all-purpose greeting cards, stationary, games puzzles, inexpensive watches, books, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pens/pencils, tissues, slippers, socks, hand lotion, jewelry, hair brushes/combs, bath powder, perfume, and candy.

• Drop off points for central office employees are the boxes placed by the elevators on the fourth and fifth floors of RSA Union.

HISTORY

Operation Santa Claus is a long-standing holiday project of the Mental Health Association (MHA) in Alabama. Started in 1952 by MHA volunteer, Alice M. Kidd, the event is an annual gift drive to benefit individuals served by the state mental health system. Organizers felt the project would be a worthwhile way to ensure gifts would be distributed to individuals who may not have family with which to share the holidays. Today, Operation Santa Claus provides gifts for members of the Friendship club and Open Door Club, Mental Health Authority group homes, day treatment and CHOICES programs, area foster homes, and residents of state DMH/MR facilities.

Operation Santa Claus has enjoyed continued support from elected officials, policymakers, DMH/MR employees, advocates and the general public. “Gift collections have steadily increased each year since Operation Santa Claus was started,” said Darold Dunlavy, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Montgomery. “Our gift donors definitely recognize the therapeutic benefits of their efforts.”