ACU students and members of the Abilene community will take on the role of Santa Claus for three nights during the week before Christmas. Volunteers will go door-to-door in Abilene’s poorer neighborhoods passing out toys to needy children as part of Christmas on the Street.

The annual event, sponsored by Love & Care Ministries, involves hundreds of volunteers who take the presents to children and their families, said Nancy Coburn, director of service-learning and volunteer resources.

“We help by donating and wrapping toys that volunteers will give out to families in need; we are donating more than 700 toys this year,” Coburn said. “This is our second year to participate in this way as part of our Season of Caring.”

The event is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with every person, she said. More students are getting involved in the ministry this year than last year said Connor Best, Students Association president.

“We got out a week early last year, so students weren’t around,” Best said. “This is the first year we have a lot of student volunteers.”

The event is walk to the street, knock the doors and pass out the presents to children who are in a low-income homes.

“I think is cool, because you get to interact with families. It’s not just donating or packing boxes,” Best said. “We really have conversations and be able to pass the presents to children.”

Many students don’t know about Christmas on the Street because spreading the word about events that take place off campus has been difficult, Best said. Organizers have done a good job advertising about the toy donations, but they want more students to participate in the gift giving.

“The students who do know about it are very excited to be here and to pass around the gifts,” Best said.