Our mission
Santee Santas is an all-volunteer organization working together to deliver the holiday spirit throughout the Santee Community.
About Us
We are Santee Santas
The Santee Santas Foundation is a local non-profit 501(c)(3) registered organization, providing help to members of the community living within the Santee School District boundaries and in need of assistance.
Santee Santas’ signature effort is an annual holiday children’s toy and food (and grocery store gift card) drive focused on bringing the Christmas spirit to over 300 families in our community. Our senior outreach program ensures seniors in our community who are living alone or in senior care facilities are not forgotten over the holidays. Our volunteers serve the Santee community throughout the year, and have done so for the past sixty-eight years!
Santee Santas is an all-volunteer organization, with school district employees, City of Santee staff, firefighters, local businesses, service organizations, mobile home parks and local citizens working together to make each year’s endeavors successful. There are minimal administrative costs; all donations are tax deductible and are used to assist families and seniors in need of help.
Core Values
- Collaboration – We promote partnerships that engage individuals and organizations focused on the common goal of assisting in our community.
- Dignity – We treat our families, partners, volunteers, and donors with respect, empathy and compassion without bias or judgment. We welcome and value the differences in all people.
- Agility – We promote an organizational culture that encourages new ideas, improvements, flexibility and innovations, and turns challenges into opportunities.
- Inclusivity - We believe that no person should be excluded from participation in our services or volunteering on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or military status, or for any other discriminatory reason.
Our Dedicated Members
Tonya Hendrix, President
Tonya Hendrix is a long-time Santee community member and has been a member of the Santee Santas Board of Directors since 2012. She is a retired Santee School Teacher and currently serves as President of Santee Santas.
Jerelyn Lindsay, Vice President
Jerelyn Lindsay has been on the Santee Santas Board of Directors since 2003 and currently serves as Vice President. She is a retired Santee School District Principal and while serving as principal, she was the Santee School District liaison, organizing and leading the Santee Santas school food drives each holiday season.
Marie Gregory, Secretary
Marie Gregory is a long-time Santee resident, local business owner, and active community member. She has been on the Santee Santas Board of Directors since 2005 and currently serves as Secretary.
Linda Vail, Treasurer
Linda Vail is 40 year Santee resident and an active community member. Linda is a retired Executive Assistant and joined the Santee Santas Board of Directors in 2016. She currently serves as the Treasurer.
Channing Dawson
Channing Dawson is a Santee Firefighter/Paramedic and has been the Santee Firefighter Representative on the Board of Directors since 2018. He serves as a liaison with the City of Santee and organizes the assistance of Santee Firefighters each year for the Holiday Food and Toy Program.
Terry Johnson
Terry Johnson is a long-time resident of Santee. She volunteered for more than 10 years before joining the Board of Directors in 2020. Terry is a retired Santee School District Teacher.
Diana Meza
Diana Meza is a long-time Santee resident and currently works for the Santee School District. Diana has been an active member of Santee Santas for many years and has served on the Board of Directors since 2010.
Ginger Owens
Ginger has been a Santee resident for 50 years and is an active community member. She is a retired Publishing Production Designer. Ginger joined the Santee Santas Board of Directors in 2020.
Kathy Rasmussen
Kathy is a long-time resident and active community member who has been a constant Santee Santas volunteer for many years. Kathy is a retried Santee School District School Secretary and joined the Board of Directors in 2022.
Find a Volunteer Opportunity
- All adult volunteers must complete the volunteer application and waiver. Click below to sign up!
- Parents of volunteers under 18 should download and complete the child volunteer waiver and bring it to your child’s first volunteer event.