About Us

Mission

Today, the mission of Second String Santa's annual "Miracle on College Street" holiday party is to deliver holiday gifts to children in the Charlotte community. Before the big night, Second String Santas gets input from social workers on what kinds of toys kids would like. When invitations go out, a "wish list" is included. Typical items range from dolls to building blocks, watches, board games and educational toys - with some party-goers bringing gifts of over $100 in value.

Each year, several thousand toys are collected the night of the party. The next day, volunteers load the toys onto trucks and deliver them to Mecklenburg County Social Services Department for distribution to children before Christmas. It typically takes about two dozen volunteers to load, unload and sort the toys!

The success of the holiday party has led to related annual events. For several years, Second String Santa has hosted a Back to School party in the summer to collect school supplies for Community in Schools. The Santas have also been known to go out on their own and deliver toys to children in local hospitals.

Second String Members

Second String Santa would not exist without the efforts of a dedicated group of young professionals. Each year, the group is responsible for planning the annual "Miracle on College Street" and Back to School events, as well as securing sponsors, arranging volunteers, coordinating the delivery of toys and school supplies and promoting the organization's mission.