Santa Cop Program

Santa Cop LogoSanta Cop Program: Spreading Joy in Hendersonville Since 1992

The Santa Cop program is a longstanding tradition of the Hendersonville Police Department that has been spreading holiday cheer to families in need for over 30 years. Each year, the program reaches approximately 30 to 60 families, including around 100 children, providing them with food, clothing, toys, and even some special assistance when possible. In addition, we extend our support to senior citizens in need, many of whom live alone and depend on us for holiday cheer.

What Families Receive

Through generous donations, we provide a range of support to families, including:

  • New toys for children
  • Clothing
  • Food and grocery store gift cards
  • Special assistance, depending on available funds and needs outlined in the application

How to Apply

Applications for the Santa Cop program are available starting October 31, 2025, at the Hendersonville Police Department (#3 Executive Park Drive) or on our website. Families seeking assistance must complete and submit their application no later than December 2, 2025, and the deadline for assisted living applications is November 24, 2025. A board reviews all applications to ensure fairness and privacy. Only the necessary information is shared with the volunteers to protect the privacy of the families.

2025 Santa Cop Application (PDF) -  due by 12/02/2025

Families selected for the program will be invited to pick up their gifts on December 13, 2025.

How to Contribute

The success of the Santa Cop program is solely dependent on donations from our generous community. You can contribute in the following ways:

  • Monetary Donations: Checks can be made payable to "HCPAA Santa Cop" and mailed to the Hendersonville Police Department, ATTN: Santa Cop, #3 Executive Park Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075. Donations can also be dropped off in person at the police department. Receipts and letters of thanks will be provided if specified.
  • Toy and Gift Card Donations: New, unwrapped toys, gift cards, and other items are always needed and can be dropped off at the police department by December 10, 2025.

Who makes this happen? 

The success of the Santa Cop program is due to the incredible generosity and community spirit of Hendersonville. It is made possible by an incredible network of volunteers, local businesses, community organizations, church groups and generous donors. At the heart of the program is an all-volunteer team of Hendersonville Police Department employees who dedicate their time to organizing and executing the event.

We also have support from our partner organization, the Hendersonville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (HCPAA). Each year, members of HCPAA help with fundraising, shopping, packaging, and distributing gifts, ensuring every detail is handled with care and compassion.

From small businesses donating toys to networking groups organizing fundraising events, the community comes together to make Santa Cop a success. This collective effort showcases the spirit of giving that runs deep in Hendersonville, and we are immensely grateful for the continuous support we receive from all corners of the community. Your contributions, whether big or small, are vital to reaching as many families as possible.