Elgin volunteers prepare for Operation Santa as Christmas Eve approaches
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
ELGIN – December is here, Thanksgiving is over, and the Christmas music is finally thematically appropriate. In a few weeks, Volunteer Santas from the Elgin Rural Fire Protection District will take to the streets to deliver presents and spread some extra holiday joy this Christmas Eve, December 24th, as part of the annual Operation Santa.
For those unfamiliar, Operation Santa is a cunning plan devised and hosted by Elgin’s EMS volunteers to ensure every home in town gets a gift delivered personally from the big red man himself. Starting out as just a fun visit from Santa to the Elgin Opera house over 50 years ago, the operation has gradually been expanded over the decades to include over twenty volunteers delivering gifts across Elgin every Christmas Eve.
Each year, volunteers prepare around 1,000 goody bags containing candy and toys and deliver them to residences across town while dressing as Santa. Like always, the Elgin Santas will begin their rounds this year at around 5:00 p.m. and split up to cover Elgin in four quadrants. An additional “roaming Santa” (as was described in previous years) may be dedicated to handling the larger apartment buildings in town.
Any house or residence that leaves their porch/front lights on is marked for a visit from Santa. Anyone that would like to have Old Saint Nick stop by should remember to leave their porch lights on. In this way, not only do families get some extra goodies for the holiday season, but plenty of kids also get a personal visit from Santa on Christmas Eve.
Keep in mind that the Santas won’t be doubling back to check houses a second time, nor will they stop by if it doesn’t look like anyone’s home, no exceptions. Anyone that wants a visit from Santa needs to leave their porch lights on and plan on being home by 5:00 p.m. to greet the big red guy. As written by Elgin RFPD in a recent social media reminder:
“We are all giving up our Christmas Eve with our families to conquer this operation. You’ll hear and see us coming. Be ready.”
The program itself is entirely donation funded and volunteer run. For those interested in supporting future operations, monetary donations can be sent to PO BOX 431 in Elgin. The rural pancake breakfast hosted each year during Riverfest Weekend also provides some funding.
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(Photo originally posted by the Elgin Rural Fire Protection District)
