Santa Claus is making a lot of friends these days on MacArthur Drive next to a trailer loaded with fresh sweet potatoes. He smiles and waves at cars that pass by. People wave back and some stop to drop off new toys or drop some bills in Santa’s Salvation Army red kettle.
Tom Posey is the man behind the beard and the idea to turn the season into helping people have a brighter Christmas. Posey lives in Orange and has a farm in Louisiana. He’s been selling his produce by the side of the road near the Adams Bayou Bridge and came up with the idea to put his time to good use. Everything is for the Salvation Army and children, he said.
On Thursday he was joined by mother and daughter Pam Cooper and Amy Bland dressed as elves. They met Posey while at the farmers market at the Big Lots parking lot, where Posey sold his produce before finding a more permanent spot.
Cooper and Bland hand make goat’s milk soap with scented oils. They joined in the fun with Posey of waving and posing for pictures with people who stop. The trio doesn’t have a reindeer with their costumes, but Moon the yellow Labrador is nearby. Even though he sleeps peacefully, he doesn’t seem like the type of canine to wear antlers.
Cooper and Bland are also contributing to the gifts for drawings that Posey is conducting. People can stop and put their name and phone number on tickets to win some prizes. Thursday he drew the names of Joni Hebert, Aliyonna Sadler and Riley Pajares as winners for Christmas trees donated by Home Depot.
Sabine River Ford is letting him use a bright red pickup truck to collect the toys, clothes and other contributions to spread the spirit of Christmas. Other nearby businesses are also helping.
Posey said Santa will be at the spot until Christmas ready to greet anyone who wants to meet the man in red.
Social Media