'It's Santa': St. Nick brings joy, toys to girls and boys

Syzah Thomas, 6, gives a thankful hug to Santa Wednesday evening after receiving toys from the Forgotten Children's Fund 2014 Santa Train.
Syzah Thomas, 6, gives a thankful hug to Santa Wednesday evening after receiving toys from the Forgotten Children's Fund 2014 Santa Train.

The sirens wailing outside of Syzah Thomas' grandmother's house on Christmas Eve were not signaling an emergency, they were announcing Santa.

Syzah, 6, stood on the front porch with her mother, Erica Mayweather, and stared open-mouthed as the Santa Train slowly pulled up to the house.

The Santa Train was a procession of more than 20 police cars, a firetruck and other emergency response vehicles -- all with their lights flashing and sirens blasting -- as they led a black Navigator limo carrying Santa, five CARTA buses packed with spirit-filled civilians and a moving truck full of toys from the Forgotten Child Fund.

As Santa stepped out of the limo, Syzah began to scream.

"It's Santa!" she shouted, shaking her black braids with excitement.

photo Haley Lockhart, center, 9, smiles as she sees Santa Train toys for the first time Wednesday night. Rebecca Lockhart, near left, holds her new stuffed animal as the home filled with song and many well wishers.

Syzah could not hold back her high-pitch scream as she eagerly sifted through a cardboard box, twice her size, full of presents.

A bike, stuffed animals, a pink purse and hat, and a jewelry box were just some of the gifts Syzah got from the Forgotten Child Fund.

The fund was started in 1965 by two police officers.

The fund collects toys throughout the year and distributes them to children in need during the holiday season.

Johnny Wright, 85, was one of the officers who began this tradition.

He still remembers the cold Christmas Day in 1965 when he parked his motorcycle outside of a house to address a domestic dispute.

"Two little kids walked out of the house," he said, "And I could hear their parents shouting inside."

One child carried an apple, the other an orange, he said.

The kids told Wright the fruit was their one Christmas present, and Wright said at that moment he knew he needed to do something for the kids in the city who would not have Christmas presents.

Every year since then, the Forgotten Child Fund has collected toys and distributed them to children who have experienced a significant loss or are in need.

Clay Ingle, chief of Hamilton County STARS, helped organize the event, and said this tradition is a way for emergency personnel from across Hamilton County to come together and give back.

"We don't want a child forgotten at Christmas," Ingle said.

This year, the fund collected almost 9,000 toys for children across the city, 1,000 more toys than last year, he said.

On Wednesday night, the Santa Train stopped at 12 houses, handing out toys to children who were deemed particularly in need. Each of the kids received a bike and a box overflowing with gifts as more than 100 people stood in the front yard singing carols.

Lt. Robert Starnes has been the Santa on the train for 29 years.

"It's all worth it to see the kids' faces," he said. "We don't usually get to be there when things are good."

Chattanooga police Officer Casey Cleveland and his wife, Raven, have made it a tradition to participate in the Santa Train.

"There is so much negativity toward police officers right now," Casey Cleveland said. "I am glad I can help promote these good things."

One of the stops for the Santa Train was at the house where the three Lockhart children live with their grandparents, Susan and Gary Patterson.

The elementary school children moved in with their grandparents days before Thanksgiving, after their house burned to the ground in a fire that claimed the lives of their parents.

The Santa Train drove past the site where their house previously stood, and turned the corner to arrive at the Patterson's.

The kids shouted with excitement and ran from the front porch to the living room and stood in front of the Christmas tree, eagerly waiting for the overflowing boxes of presents to be carried inside.

"The kids have been beyond hyped all day long waiting for this," Susan Patterson said. "I just don't have the words to thank everyone."

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.comor at 423-757-6592.

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