By Sara Beth Williams–
This holiday season, Citrus Heights resident and former veteran George Frey has stepped into the role of Santa Claus in an effort to both bring joy and happiness to kids and to help provide for families in need.
As part of Santa’s Magical Experience, Frey and his wife, who will appear alongside him as Mrs. Claus, are helping lead a community-wide toy drive aimed at brightening Christmas for children and families in need.
During a Christmas festival to be held at Bliss Farm in Citrus Heights on Dec. 13, Frey is collecting new and unwrapped toys for children, which will be distributed to Shriners Children’s Hospital, Sutter General, the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, and other homeless outreach groups. Volunteers will personally hand out the gifts, many of them hand-wrapped, throughout the holiday season, Frey said.
The Christmas festival and vendor fair is scheduled from 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 and will feature photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookie making, hot cocoa, egg nogg, and food and arts and crafts vendors. Food and photos with Santa come at a cost. The event itself is free.
Frey says his path to becoming Santa has been years in the making. Although he is considered “a new pro Santa,” he brings a decade of off-and-on experience to the role. “I’ve been an elf, I’ve been a photographer for Santas, I’ve done event organizing,” he said. “I’m retired military, and I’ve promoted events, pro wrestling, concerts, Santa events. All of my stuff is charity work. Money is the root of all evil, so I try to use what I have to help others.”
His commitment to giving stretches back to childhood. Growing up with little, Frey says he often felt lucky just to receive socks for Christmas.
Frey remembers clearly what it felt like to go without, and he remembers, too, the kindness of those who stepped in to help him over the years. “Someone did that for me when I was a kid,” he said. “So now I pay it forward.”
One of his most memorable acts of giving happened right in his own neighborhood off Sperry Drive. Frey recounted that, while walking in his neighborhood, he came across a family in tears. Their home had just been robbed, he said, and nearly all of their Christmas decorations and gifts were gone. Frey immediately went to the store and purchased enough gifts to replace what had been stolen and then delivered the items back to the family. When they asked how they could repay him, he told them what he tells everyone: “Pay it forward.”
With his wife as Mrs. Claus and a community of volunteers backing him, Frey says he’s ready to bring joy to as many families as possible this season.
Bliss Farms is located at 8304 Bovingdon Ln. in Citrus Heights. For more information about farm events, visit the farm’s website.
