The Seventh annual Operation Santa event in Great Falls on Christmas morning was a tremendous success. Approximately 650 gifts were distributed, and the weather was perfect, making it the best year yet for the event, which took its third trek around West Elementary.
Laura Vukasin founded Operation Santa seven years ago after a visit to a school shortly after Christmas break. During this visit, a touching moment occurred when a few children believed they must not have been good that year because Santa had not visited them. A first-grade teacher asked her students to share their holiday vacation experiences. One boy said, “I don’t have a lot to tell you. I must not have been very good this year.” When the teacher inquired why he felt that way, he replied, “Because Santa didn’t come to my house.” Two other little girls nodded in agreement, indicating that Santa had also skipped their homes. This heartfelt moment prompted Laura and others to start Operation Santa.
The group organizes gift purchases, wraps them in various colored paper for boys and girls, and sorts them by age into large boxes. These boxes are placed in wagons pulled by horses and transported throughout the area. Each year, Operation Santa selects a different school district to share the joy of Christmas.
To attract attention, the group is led by fire trucks with lights and sirens blaring, encouraging people to come outside. Each year, around 100 to 200 volunteers participate. They identify the ages of children in local homes and select appropriate gifts from the horse-drawn wagon to give to the kids. “We also had boxed candy, candy canes, and dog bones,” explained Laura. “You can’t forget anyone on Christmas!”
Operation Santa continues to grow each year, with the hope of making everyone’s Christmas a little brighter. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the generous donors, shoppers, gift-wrappers, gift movers, box painters, and trailer loaders, as well as the hundreds of elves who distributed presents and candy to wonderful families.
By Karen Anderson: December 28, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
