Cove Blue Santa accepting applications, donations
By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
The Cove Blue Santa program will begin accepting applications for families in need starting this Saturday, November 13.
Applications must be submitted in person at the Cove Blue Santa office, located at 212 Cove Terrace Shopping Center, and will be available at the following days and times:
Saturday, November 13- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, November 17- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, November 19- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday, November 29- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, November 30- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday, December 6- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Masks are required during the application process, and only the applicant is allowed to be present.
Applicants must bring a photo ID of the person who is filling out the application. This person must be the primary custodian of the child/children. Proof of residency is also required. This is open to Copperas Cove residents, as well as residents of the Pidcoke and Kempner area. Examples of proof of residency include a bill in the applicant’s name, a copy of a current lease (within one year), a Medicaid or food stamp award/authorization letter with the applicant’s address. If the applicant is living with a relative or other person, the owner/head of household needs to write a statement saying so. Applicants must also bring proof of their relationship to the child, which can include the previously mentioned Medicaid or food stamp documents, guardianship or other court documents, or a school report card that shows the address. A birth certificate or Social Security Card will not be accepted as proof of custody. The children must be ages 15 and below.
Kathy McCain, with the Cove Blue Santa organization, estimated that Cove Blue Santa will receive around 250 applications this year, or close to 600 kids, which is the number that they typically serve.
McCain added that while this is for residents of Copperas Cove, Pidcoke and Kempner, the Cove Blue Santa will put families from Killeen in touch with organizations in the Killeen area.
This year marks 22 years of the Cove Blue Santa program spreading Christmas cheer to families in need.
“Sometimes there's families in need, and we were all kids at one time, and we remember the joy of Christmas or maybe the despair of not being able to celebrate, and hopefully, we're there to help those families be able to give their kids a little bit of a better Christmas that maybe are facing some financial straits,” McCain said. “We always say, ‘It's all about the kids.’”
Donation collection bins have been set up at local businesses around town to include: the Quine & Associates Management Office in Suite 200 of the Cove Terrace Shopping Center, The Healthy Hub in Suite 258, First Texas Bank, the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce, the Copperas Cove Police Department, the Hills of Cove Golf Course, Cinergy Cinemas, Burkes Outlet, Armadillo Properties and the Southern Hills Chiropractic Office on Patriot Circle.
Donations will be collected through December 6, and toys will be distributed to families on Dec. 10, 2021.