Buffalo’s Operation Blue Santa Sees Increased Need for Assistance

During this week’s Buffalo City Council meeting, Erika McCarter gave an update on Operation Blue Santa for the 2022 Christmas season.

McCarter, along with her husband Brian, organize the annual event, which she explained more about.

The program helped four families, or 15 people, which she said was the smallest number they have helped, but the need was much higher this year than in other years.

Operation Blue Santa received nearly $22,000 in donations this year mostly in cash and checks but local businesses do provide donations in the form of goods and services.

This was the eleventh year of the program in Buffalo, and the sixth for the McCarters.

Erika said the first year they received about $8,000 in donations and have seen it grow since then to the current $22,000 in donations.

She said they are very proud of the work they have done over the years with the program.