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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Santa Train: Chattanooga’s ‘most needy’ families get Christmas surprise

Madison Holland, 11, hugs Santa Claus as Hadley Holland, 11, Hanna Holland, 6, and Gage Holland, 8, look through boxes of presents as a part of the Santa Train Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at their home in Lookout Valley, Tenn. The Santa Train was established in 1965 by two Chattanooga Police officers to give families in need Christmas presents.
Madison Holland, 11, hugs Santa Claus as Hadley Holland, 11, Hanna Holland, 6, and Gage Holland, 8, look through boxes of presents as a part of the Santa Train Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 at their home in Lookout Valley, Tenn. The Santa Train was established in 1965 by two Chattanooga Police officers to give families in need Christmas presents.

Ashley and Chris Holland’s six children thought a bad car wreck happened down the road from their house.

What they didn’t know, though, was they were about to get a visit from dozens of people, including Santa Claus, carrying boxes and bags full of toys.

“I’ve never seen this before – look!” one child exclaimed from the front porch as the Forgotten Child Fund’s Santa Train started lining up in the road.

Police cars, firetrucks and ambulances, all with emergency lights and sirens on started to file in.

“It’s a parade!” exclaimed another child. “I think it’s Donald Trump.”