Cranford Jaycees Delivering Joy with Santa

By Andrew Feldman
Photography provided by the Cranford Jaycees

Santa Claus came early to Cranford again this year by way of the Cranford Jaycees’ Santa Deliveries and Toy Drive. Over the course of two nights, Santa made stops at almost 1,000 homes to deliver a total of 2,339 presents, both records, often escorted by flashing lights from a Cranford Police or Fire Department vehicle and a team of elves.

The visits were part of an annual toy collection drive where parents donate a present for families in need throughout the region. The parents can then have a wrapped present delivered by Santa to their home on a weekend night. The drive netted almost 3,000 toys, filling two U-Haul trucks, that were distributed to Cranford residents and several local organizations: Cranford Family Care, the New Jersey Community Development Corporation in Paterson, and Union County Social Services.

The program is a longtime Cranford tradition that has tripled in size over the last five years. More than 70 Jaycee members volunteer to support the event, from organizing presents by region and loading delivery cars to planning traffic routes and suiting up as Santa Claus. Eight teams, each with a Santa and elf helpers, delivered the presents each night.