Secret Santa is a mission of South Aiken Presbyterian Church in operation since 1987 that provides presents to Aiken County children in need that would not otherwise have the opportunity to open gifts on Christmas day. Supported children may request 3 items, and will receive at least 3 gifts to open at a total maximum cost of $75. Stocking Stuffers are also provided with small toiletry items, school supplies, and other supports as supplies are available.
You can view a previous year's sample application here, but please remember that items are subject to change and that all applications must be verified in person at South Aiken Presbyterian Church on one of our two application days: October 26th from 9-12pm, or November 2nd from 9-12pm.
Check back on this page in October for more details!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for support through Secret Santa?
We support families in need that are residents of Aiken County, SC, with children aged newborn through age 13 by Christmas day. At this time, we do not require any formal proof of income for eligibility because we know that many factors - including medical bills, housing emergencies, and other unpredictable situations - go into a family's disposable income that may not be easily shown. However, we ask that all families requesting aid through our program be honest about their needs, so that we can continue our record of assisting everyone who comes to our program without turning anyone away.
How do I apply for aid through Secret Santa?
We require that at least one parent or guardian apply in person for all children seeking support on one of our two application days each season, no matter if they have been applied for in previous years or not. Parent/guardians must present their driver's license or other government ID, as well as each child's birth certificate or Social Security card in person at this application day. Application forms must be signed and submitted to a registered Secret Santa volunteer.
What if I can't make it to either of the application days?
We understand that some families have work schedules or childcare needs that make Saturday mornings difficult. If you know that you will be unable to attend either of the application days, please contact us at [email protected] or by calling (803) 648-1214 before the last application day of the year in order to discuss any possible alternative meeting times to meet with our director and apply. The sooner you contact us, the better we can help accommodate any reasonable needs
How is my privacy as an applicant protected?
We take family privacy very seriously, and work to ensure that your information is not released. This is one of the reasons that we still require in-person applications, as we do not have the security necessary to protect copies and records of private documents. All volunteers that accept applications and distribute gifts are heavily trained and reminded to keep family names private, even if they know you when you arrive to ask for support. After your application is processed, every family is assigned an identification number for use with sponsors and other volunteers. Children are also assigned an identification number, but are also identified with first names only to sponsors. We also work to only publish photos that hide the faces of any applicants, and instead focus on our wonderful volunteers.
How are gifts distributed?
Each child receives a labelled, clear bag that holds their wrapped presents and stocking stuffer items. Each gift is labelled with a tear-away tag that identifies the child's name, ID number, and gift item inside to aid volunteers in organization, but also so that family members can know what their children are being gifted without having to unwrap all of the items. Gift bags are all distributed on a single morning, typically the Saturday before Christmas, in a drive-through car line.
What if I can't come to Distribution Day?
If you know that you typically work Saturday mornings and worry that you may not be able to pick up your child's gifts, we ask that you identify an authorized secondary pick-up individual over the age of 21 when you complete our application. Their full legal name (matching the person's driver's license) must be provided, as well as their best contact information in case of emergency. We will only release gift bags to the names on the application, and only if that individual presents a proper government ID with matching photo and name.
I don't have a permanent address. Can I still apply for aid for my children?
We work to make sure we can overcome any barriers that there may be between you and receiving support from our program. If you do not have a permanent address to prove your residency in Aiken County, we offer ways to work through you children's schools to confirm residency. Contact us directly before the final application day to learn more about how we can make sure you receive the support you need.
Can I apply for multiple programs in Aiken County for Christmas gifts just in case?
Unfortunately, we ask that you do not apply to more than one Christmas Gift agency within Aiken County. We want to make sure we all have the funds and capability to support as many individual families in the county as possible, and supporting the same family twice would limit our ability to do so. We work to meet the demand that we are presented each year, finding sponsors to match applicants rather than vice versa, so we do everything in our power to assure you that if you apply to our program, you will receive support. Many other organizations are the same in the county.
We work with the other programs in the county with sharing the names of parents and children that applied for aid to compare our lists to confirm one family is not receiving double support. If a family is found to be on both lists, typically we will maintain your name on our list to make sure you receive some aid. However, other programs have policies that involve removing your name from their roster for that year, as well as possibly imposing a penalty refusing to allow you to apply the following year. Please be aware of each program's policies, and reach out to us if you have a concern.
We work with the other programs in the county with sharing the names of parents and children that applied for aid to compare our lists to confirm one family is not receiving double support. If a family is found to be on both lists, typically we will maintain your name on our list to make sure you receive some aid. However, other programs have policies that involve removing your name from their roster for that year, as well as possibly imposing a penalty refusing to allow you to apply the following year. Please be aware of each program's policies, and reach out to us if you have a concern.
Have questions not answered here? Contact us!
[email protected] · (803) 648-1214
Sponsor a child today!
We accept monetary donations throughout the year in the offering plate in an envelope labeled "Secret Santa," in check form mailed or dropped off in the church office with "Secret Santa" in the "for" line, or online at the tab above titled "Online Giving." Please note that SAPC is charged an approx. 3% fee for any online donations.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Proudly supported by the Aiken Standard and 88.3 WAFJ
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Founded in 1987, the Secret Santa program is spearheaded by South Aiken Presbyterian Church and is a community-based outreach program that connects families in need in Aiken County with sponsors for the holiday season.
For more information, contact us at [email protected], or at (803) 648-1214