Help 'Send Santa to the Troops' - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(11/16/12) - You can help 'Send Santa to the Troops' this Christmas. But you have to act fast.

Friday morning, the bus at Garber Buick in Saginaw Township was far from full.

"We're just waiting for people to come in. We're a little bit down, we're a little bit behind," said Travis George of the Yellow Ribbon Guard.

For the eighth year in a row, the Yellow Ribbon Guard wants to 'Send Santa to the Troops'. They have 1,300 names on their list.

Each serviceman or woman will get a care package just in time for Christmas. But they need your help to make it happen.

Eleanor Loubert and some other lovely ladies are part of a group from Swan Haven Manor. They brought 60 boxes.

"I have a grandson that's in. And he's been to Afghanistan twice," Loubert said.

Eleanor asked her grandson what they needed to pack.

"Every box had socks and a role of duct tape, besides a lot of goodies," she said.

With donations coming in slowly, the Yellow Ribbon Guard called in reinforcements. Santa Claus made a special trip from the North Pole.

"Everybody that hears this broadcast can give at least $1. That's all Santa asks, $1," Santa said.

Santa is joined by one of his elves - presumably one who helped make his stylish suit.

"It's very chic. And it took the little buggers at least two or three weeks to stitch this together," Santa said.

The elves had time for that project, but the Yellow Ribbon Guard doesn't have the same luxury. Everything they collect over the weekend gets boxed up and shipped on Monday.

"You don't need to get a lot. It could be something, stop at a convenience store gas station, and you could pick up the two for $1 sunflower seeds,"  George said.

You can drop off items for the care packages, or they'll even accept money, until 6 p.m. Friday at Garber Buick In Saginaw Township

There will be more care package drives this weekend.

Saturday, you'll find the Yellow Ribbon Guard at Northwoods Wholesale Outlet in Pinconning and at The Dow Event Center in Saginaw.

Sunday, they'll be at the K-Mart parking lot at Euclid and Wilder in Bay City.