Blue Santa brings bountiful breakfast

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Santa Claus traded his red suit for a blue one Friday morning, and traded breakfast for toys.

• Photos: Blue Santa breakfast

The Austin Police Department's Operation Blue Santa hosted a community breakfast to raise money for families in need this holiday season.

"When you look at the people that are here, they're volunteers, they came out here on their own time," said Chief Art Acevedo .  "It means that the spirit of giving and Christmas is alive and well and the scrooge and grinch are not having their way this year."

The breakfast at Shoal Crossing Event Center served up warm food from Downtown Cafe in Thorndale, as well as fruit and sweets. Local artists also played live music, and a silent auction reeled in more donations.

Milton Varret , a philanthropist and businessman, donated $35,000 to the charity.  This is the organization's biggest single donation.

It all started at 6 a.m. and lasted until noon.  People could also get their picture with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Operation Blue Santa hopes to help more than 3,800 families this year, including gathering gifts for some 14,000 children.

The Blue Santa gifts will be delivered on Dec. 15.

This year they have to take on 6,000 more children because of the Christmas Bureau's investigation.

Wednesday, the Attorney General's Office got the OK to seize the charities assets.  This comes after Police Chief Acevedo opened a criminal investigation on the Christmas Bureau. 

There were allegations of misconduct and misuse of funds. 

"We saw the chief of police on TV yesterday ," explained Varret.  "I've done charity events with him before and I just felt like coming down and helping."