The Chilton County Fraternal Order of Police, Smith-Dale Lodge 31 is now accepting donations and applications for its ninth annual Operation: Santa Claus program.

The program serves families in Chilton County by providing toys, meals and other items for them at Christmas.

John Shearon, spokesman for the group, said Operation: Santa Claus helped about eight families in 2010.

“We’re trying to help the worst cases,” Shearon said. “The amount of money we take up (is) going to dictate how many people we can actually help.”

Shearon said the program had to reduce the number of families receiving gifts because the economy has caused a large decrease in donations the past few years.

“We’re just having to do the best we can with what we’ve got now,” Shearon said. “Anybody that’s willing to help with it any kind of way…would be very much appreciated.”

Shearon said the program also works with churches or individuals to sponsor additional families each year.

“We’re just trying to put a smile on kids’ faces for Christmas,” Shearon said. “We just have to better help the families that really need it the most now.”

Monetary donations may be sent to Operation: Santa Claus, P.O. Box 2332 in Clanton.

Checks and money orders should be made payable to Operation: Santa Claus.

The Chilton County FOP asks that all donations be sent by Dec. 1.

Applications for assistance from Operation: Santa Claus should be submitted to the Chilton County Jail no later than Nov. 15.

For more information or gift pick-up, contact John Shearon at (205) 755-6261 or Erric Price at (205) 755-4698.