The mission of Operation Santa SC Inc. is to provide the basic necessities to Greenville County Elementary School children who otherwise might not experience the joy of gifts during the holiday season.
Our Mission – is accomplished by working with Social Workers/Guidance Counselors within Greenville County Schools who identify children with a parent or guardian who is struggling with providing day to day basic necessities
Our History – Operation Santa began in 2000 when John Sheppard, Principal and husband to Kathy, saw the need to help students in his school that were less fortunate. Kathy and John shopped for 2 children and the gifts were given to the families.
In 2002, Kathy, The Director of Community Relations of The Cliffs Communities asked The Cliffs to sponsor 200 students. From 2003 – 2011 associates with The Cliffs Communities shopped together early morning and returned to The Cliffs to wrap gifts for 200 students from the Upstate. In 2011, due to economic challenges, The Cliffs was forced to abandon their sponsorship of Operation Santa.
In 2011 Kathy Sheppard and Cathy Tate joined together to recruit friends and friends of friends to support 70 kids from Greenville County Title I schools – a majority of these schools have over 95% of their students receiving free or reduced lunches. In 2012, Operation Santa became Operation Santa SC Inc. – a 501(c)3 Non-Profit..
Operation Santa SC works solely with Greenville County Schools, and the school social workers. We cannot honor personal requests.
Operation Santa SC 