For Operation Santa Claus
By Vanessa Vestergaard, Contributing Writer
Operation Santa Claus is now underway, working to bring warmth and brightness to both body and spirit. I am writing this the day before Thanksgiving—a holiday centered on gratitude—and I am taking the opportunity to highlight my appreciation for the young people who continue to dedicate their time to supporting mental health during the holidays through Operation Santa Claus.
When the Student Identification Card Suicide Prevention Act became law, requiring every student ID to include the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline—now the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline—it marked a meaningful shift. Mental health was taken seriously and began taking its rightful place alongside physical health in schools. Since then, Operation Santa Claus has received increasing support from youth: Girl Scouts, high school civic organizations, and college students.
Mental health begins early, and seeing communities of young people come together to collect much-needed items shows both heart and purpose. I am truly grateful for these young adults who recognize purpose bigger than themselves and choose to give back. In many ways, Operation Santa Claus may be the spark that inspires future leaders—leaders who will seek progress and change to strengthen mental health programs and services throughout our community. MHAGC has already seen this happen with Girl Scouts who advocated for the passage of the Student Identification Card Suicide Prevention Act.
This year, five youth-led programs – Lander University, Furman University, Greenville County School’s Ro Kappa, Girl Scouts of South Carolina, and St James Episcopal Youth- are supporting Operation Santa Claus. With every student who offers their time and energy to raise awareness, our hope grows stronger and more deeply felt. MHAGC looks forward to even more youth engagement in the years ahead—because that’s so often where change begins and grows.
On this Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the holiday season, I want to express my gratitude for our young adults. They shine with a light that pushes back the shadows of stigma and transforms lives in every school. MHAGC is grateful for their partnership and thankful to work alongside the young people who make Operation Santa Claus a truly special service for our community.
