It’s a difficult year for many…but 2025 is even more difficult for those families who are already walking a financial tightrope.

And need isn’t always obvious.

“People do not know that Katy is not the ‘land of plenty’,” said Patti Lacy, past president of Katy Christian Ministries’ board of directors told the Katy Times in a 2024 interview. “There is a huge underserved population of students in Katy ISD. And there is a huge homeless population which just means that that these children aren’t living in their own home and may be living with someone else temporarily.” Sometimes the need is invisible, Lacy said. “Sometimes people live in an affluent neighborhood and go to an affluent school, but we don’t know what happens behind closed doors.”


This year, It’s a growing number of families and a wide variety of nationalities and religions being served, Lacy said. “Overall, the food insecurities in our community is growing rapidly,” she said. “We’re adding food fairs for community members that are not our current clients.”


But celebrating Christmas can be really hard for these families who are struggling just to keep food on the table, during a time in which many assistance programs are being cut, and nonprofits have fewer resources to offer to those in need.

Those are the families served by Katy Christian Ministries’ holiday operation called Santa’s Sleigh. Year-round, Katy Christian Ministries serves many of these families through its food pantry at 3506 Porter Road in Katy as well as through its social services program. The Santa’s Sleigh program is only for active clients of KCM Social Services who have met with KCM case managers for a full assessment of their needs, according to the organization’s website.

For over 30 years the KCM Santa's Sleigh program has provided thousands of children and senior citizens, granting up to three wishes for each recipient.

While the public generally thinks of gifts for children at Christmas, there are senior citizens in need too. This year the program will serve 129 seniors – the most the program has ever served -- along with 1,133 children, the largest number in the past five years. Most seniors are asking for gift cards for food, and bedding. Kids are asking for bikes (and every child asking for a bike will get one, Lacy says), along with electronics and toys.

Participants can be adopted through KCM’s website at ktcm.org/santassleigh/.

As an “Adopter,” KCM will provide you with a Christmas wish list from a child(ren) or senior adult “adoptee.” The list will include three Christmas wishes from adoptee, along with information such as age, gender, clothing size, and color preferences. If you are adopting multiple children, please ensure

that each is treated equally in your generosity. Gifts for adoptees may be brought to the west entrance of the Merrell Center, 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy, on December 7, placed in a black heavy-duty trash bag and clearly labeled with the family ID and child’s name. Please secure the label with cellophane packing tape. A separate bag should be used for each child. If you wish to include gift wrap, please place it in an additional bag.

Due to space limitations, please DO NOT donate furniture, beds, or heavy appliances.

In lieu of perishable or non-perishable food items, KCM requests gift cards or gift certificates. These should be placed in envelopes, labeled with the family ID and child’s name, and handed directly to the Santa’s Sleigh Chairperson during gift drop off.

KCM requests that the total cost for gifts per person be between $100 and $125. KCM is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of the families in need and will not disclose the last names or addresses of clients.

Drop-off time on December 7 is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gifts will be distributed by 350 KCM volunteers at the Merrell Center on December 12.

“Thank you to our community for always stepping up to help our neighbors in need,” Lacy said. “KCM is always in need of the community to assist us both financially and with donations to our two resale stores, which are the backbone of our financial stability.”

Co-chairs for Santa’s Sleigh this year are Susan Davidson, Theresa Wiens and Jennifer Alcoser.