Operation Santa Claus

History of Operation Santa Claus

The Mental Health Association began Operation Santa Claus in the 1960s to provide a special gift at Christmastime to children living with emotional and behavioral health issues.  

MHA later recognized that a forgotten group of our most needy citizens were not being serviced by other agencies.  In response, MHA extended Operation Santa Claus to include adult residents of Cleveland County living with a severe and persistent mental illness. 

Over the years, many agencies, churches and civic groups were servicing the child population during Christmastime and MHA decided to focus primarily on the adult residents of Cleveland County living with a severe and persistent mental illness.  There are exceptions when we learn of a child who is not participating in a Christmas program and who qualifies to receive support.

Many of the adults who participate in the program are both physically and mentally disabled.  Many are individuals from Cleveland County who now reside in state facilities such as J. Iverson Riddle.  For a great many of these consumers, this is the only gift they receive at Christmastime as many have no family and some even no home.