In the four corners of France and across the border, Green Santa Claus and Secours populaire volunteers become “Green Santas” and give a helping hand to Red Santa in France and around the world.
Volunteers are preparing for Christmas. For this, the Green Santas campaign was launched on November 22 in Paris at the Phénix circus. That day the SPF (Secours populaire français) launched its Green Santa caravan. For the first time, green Santas will travel across France, from Paris to Nice via Bordeaux and Brest. Two vehicles adorned with the colors of Green Santas will stop in 12 French cities during major mobilization events. Here is the route of this caravan: Dijon (11/25), Lyon (11/28), Nice (11/29), Montpellier (12/02), Toulouse (12/03), Bordeaux (12/06), Blois (09/12), Saint-Nazaire (10/12), Brest (13/12), Caen (16/12), Pas-de-Calais (17/12).
The Secours populaire elves and Green Santa Claus arrived at the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris on December 4, to raise funds and help each child have a new toy, but also food on the Christmas table.
They are mobilizing and redoubling their efforts to allow families to experience the warmth and joy of this festive moment: Christmas self-services, shows and Christmas trees, collection of new toys.
Like every year in December, Secours Populaire organizes its annual reception at the Musée des Arts Forains (75012) with personalities. Godparents, volunteers and beneficiaries were present around the tree.
Green Santas allow children, students, families, the elderly or isolated people in precarious circumstances, and the homeless to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with dignity. Since 1976, Secours populaire de Paris has launched its giant collection of gifts every year for the most deprived, led by the Green Santas solidarity brigade.
The year 2023 was marked by inflation. So more than ever, the 90,000 Secours populaire volunteers become “Green Santas” and lend a helping hand.
The Secours populaire caravan of green Santas stopped on December 3 at Place Olivier in Toulouse. Between two activities, toys were collected by volunteers. Stands selling sweet treats and drinks, selling books and crafts, a makeup workshop, a photo space with Santa Claus, and workshops on Christmas decorations also helped raise funds.
From Tuesday December 5 to Saturday December 9, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Capitole metro station (line A) is hosting a large collection of new, unwrapped toys. Everyone can bring their toys there. At the same time, Tisséo is organizing an internal gift collection. All of the toys will then be given to Secours populaire which will be responsible for distribution to the beneficiary families in Haute-Garonne. The toys collected at the station and on the Tisséo sites will be handed over to Secours populaire on Wednesday, December 13 at 12 p.m.
Green Santa’s sleigh visited the Secours populaire de Beauvais station this Monday, December 4.
This year, the project is taken a little further, with the passage of the green Santa’s sleigh, eagerly awaited by the Beauvais volunteers.
Departing from Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes, on Wednesday November 29, the sleigh made several stops before stopping in Beauvais: Toulon, Marseille, Grenoble, Lyon, Dijon, Nancy, Strasbourg, Metz and Reims. At each stop, the local Secours populaire federation adds its batch of new toys intended for nearly 200 children supported by a Belgian association, COFAMON, a collective which brings together single-parent families near Liège. “For our part, we added 23 toys to the sled, for children aged 4 to 10,” note the Beauvais volunteers.
The Secours populaire français green Santa Claus parade will take place on Wednesday December 6 in Reims. Organized as part of the Green Santas campaign, this parade will be made up of 150 green elves, children and young people, who will stroll through the streets of downtown Reims to raise funds to enable families in difficulty to spend the holidays. end of year celebrations with dignity. Departure of the procession from the Cirque de Reims on Wednesday December 6, 2023 at 1:45 p.m.
Like every year, Nissan France will engage its employees alongside volunteers from Secours Populaire Paris. First by offering to give gifts or make donations, but also by encouraging them to participate in collecting gifts from the various partners of the operation.
For the sixth consecutive year, Nissan is providing a fleet of zero-emission vehicles. To help Secours Populaire in its collection of new toys and gifts for the family, Nissan is providing the association with 100% electric Nissan LEAF, Nissan ARIYA and Nissan Townstar EVs.
For a month, the Secours populaire de Paris invites Parisians to become a green Santa Claus. “So that Christmas doesn’t forget anyone, you too can become a green Santa! Green Santas allow children, young people, families, the elderly or isolated people to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with dignity.
New Year’s Eve on December 31 will be held in the rooms of the Town Hall which will welcome the most deprived, alone or with family, for an unforgettable evening.
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