Operation Santa Claus (OSC) is a year-round donation program dedicated to providing new gifts and toys to children in foster care in Orange County, California. Additionally, OSC offers gifts to children from low-income families who are receiving assistance from the County of Orange.
Approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, OSC is the official toy drive for the county. The program presently organizes two main events each year: Operation Summer Claus and the OSC holiday season, both aimed to consistently give back to the community. Last year, the program successfully distributed over 27,000 new toys and gifts, spreading joy and hope to some of the county's most vulnerable children who might otherwise have gone without. All gifts are offered to the recipients free of charge.
OSC is managed by the County of Orange Social Services Agency, with the invaluable support of community volunteers. Each year, about 1,000 hours are donated by big-hearted volunteers from County agencies and the local community, who have been essential to OSC's success since its inception.
Over the decades, the program has experience substantial growth. What started as a small effort to support the needs of a handful of children in 1962 has evolved into a major community event. This achievement is made possible through the generosity and collaborative effort of County of Orange employees, community and faith-based organizations, schools, businesses, and individuals in the community, all of whom play a vital role in gathering gifts and contributing monetary donations and gift cards.
Senior Santa and Friends is a year-round donation program dedicated to delivering gifts and special request items to low-income older adults and dependent adults. The recipients are clients of the County of Orange Social Services Agency and the Orange County Health Care Agency.
Since its establishment in 1992, SSF has aimed to improve the quality of life for its clients by supplying essential necessities and durable medical equipment, enabling them to live a more manageable, comfortable, and independent lifestyle.
In 2024, SSF provided over 1,500 gifts to this vulnerable population. This was largely due to the efforts of volunteers and donations received from County employees, private companies, community-based organizations and individual donors throughout the year.
Donation Information
Angel Tags
Participating in an Angel Tag gift initiative can serve as an excellent alternative to your traditional gift exchange. Additionally, it can effectively complement a donation drive.
Our Angel Tags serve as a general guideline for donors. They are not assigned to specific individuals but provide a list of gift ideas for those in need. OSC and SSF each have assorted bundles available with two types of Angel Tags included: one designated for in-kind gifts, and another for gift cards and monetary contributions. These can be displayed in various ways. Previous participants have been known to place them on trees, bulletin boards, walls and donation boxes. Each order of tags will come with an informational packet.
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations such as cash, checks and gift cards are essential to the success of our programs. These tax-deductible donations enable OSC and SSF to buy gifts that are low in stock and other specially requested items for children, teenagers, seniors and dependent adults.
For your convenience you can donate online at:
Operation Santa Claus: ssa.ocgov.com/DonateOSC
Senior Santa & Friends: ssa.ocgov.com/DonateSSF
Please note that each program has a separate account. We kindly request that any cash and/or gift card donations include a note specifying the intended program, if possible.
Checks can be made payable to: Operation Santa Claus or Senior Santa and Friends. Monetary donations can be mailed to:
Social Services Agency
Operation Santa Claus
P.O. Box 1077
Santa Ana, CA 92702-1077
In-Kind Gifts
New, unwrapped gifts are welcomed for foster youth ranging from newborns to 22 years old, as well as older and dependent adults.
In-kind donations are accepted throughout the year. From January to October, drop-offs are by appointment only to ensure a team member is available to assist you. Please contact us via email or phone to schedule your visit.
Beginning in mid-November, OSC/SSF donation boxes are placed throughout Orange County at various libraries, Social Services Agency regional offices and partnered businesses for your convenience.
Top Five Gift Categories Currently Needed
| Operation Santa Claus | Senior Santa and Friends |
| Educational toys (Ex. LeapFrog or Vtech) | Nutritional supplement drinks (Ex. Ensure, Boost, etc.) |
| Sensory / Social Learning gifts | Mini refrigerators (1.6 cu. ft. & up) |
| Teen gifts (Ex. hygiene, electronics, books, clothing, etc.) | Larger clothing sizes |
| Bikes | Gift cards (Ex. grocery stores, Target, Walmart, Amazon for necessities) |
| Gaming and movie themed gifts (Ex. Minecraft, Roblox, Super Mario Bros., How to Train Your Dragon, Kingdom Hearts, Pokémon, Legend of Zelda, Kirby, Sonic, Fortnite, Dragon-Ball Z, etc.) | Travel-size items for hygiene kits (Ex. toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair care items, soap/body wash, washcloths, deodorant, razors, lip balm, tissues, etc.) |
For suggestions on the most desired and needed gifts, kindly click the link below:
Prinable Suggested Gifts List
Tax Deductible
All donations are tax deductible. Individuals who donate to either program will receive a letter that includes program tax information. To obtain a donation letter, please provide your name and address on any correspondence. Additionally, information can be recorded in our donation log when items are delivered to our facility.
Volunteers play a crucial role in the daily operation of both programs and are welcomed to assist throughout the year. The peak demand periods occur during the Operation Summer Claus event around June , as well as before, during and after the holiday season. From January to November, volunteer opportunities are scheduled in-house.
Volunteer sign-ups for the holiday season begin mid to late-November and is conducted online via the SignUpGenius website. Interested individuals and/or businesses are encouraged to contact us to be added to a waiting list for notification once the volunteer calendar becomes active and accessible. Due to safety reasons, volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.
Contact Information
Operation Santa Claus: (714) 679-2438
operationsantaclaus@ssa.ocgov.com
Senior Santa & Friends: (714) 825-3111
senior.santa@ssa.ocgov.com
Mailing Address:
Social Services Agency
Operation Santa Claus
PO Box 1077
Santa Ana, CA 92702-1077
