A father of five discovered that he had a brain tumor and not long to live. When he told his children that he would not be able to buy them new bicycles for Christmas, as he had earlier promised, the children said that was all right—all they wanted was their daddy.

The children had those bikes, after all, thanks to ‘Country Santa.’ Buddy Cox wanted that Christmas to be one they would remember.

Cox, his wife, Nelle, volunteers who selflessly give their time, and those generous enough to donate toys and money, make Country Santa possible, a dream brought to fruition.

Cox has been Country Santa since 1978, and he has many stories through the years that would touch any listener’s heart. Every story, he said, is a favorite, and every child is special. On a wall inside his Country Santa workshop are letters from some of those whose lives have been affected by Country Santa.

Also on the wall is a photograph of a six-year-old girl, Jennifer, who died of cancer 12 years ago. “Jennifer’s mother, Karen Wilson, heard of us then and needed an outlet for the pain of her loss,” Cox explained. “She collected truckloads of toys for Country Santa that year, delivered the toys to the building, and left, on the pile of toys, a note that read that the donation was in memory of Jennifer. The note has been on the wall for 12 years. Each year, Jennifer’s mother has come with toys and has to touch the note.” Four years ago, she brought a photograph of Jennifer in a cheerleader’s uniform, and Cox immediately placed the photograph along with the note on the wall. Each year since, he said, she has returned with toys and touches the photograph of her daughter. “She has told me that she feels closest to Jennifer in this room than anywhere else,” he said. “Her eyes still fill with tears, and she has to have a hug.

“Other notes, from similar life stories, hang on the memory wall,” he continued. “They make this place even more caring.”

The children are the reason he has been doing this for so long, and why he continues.

Country Santa is not a one-man operation, but relies on the assistance of volunteers and the generosity of the public. Cox is quick to point out that Country Santa’s ‘elves’ have become an extended family.

One young woman, who in the past helped volunteer her time bagging toys for Country Santa, received the diagnosis that her child had cerebral palsy. Since she would not be able to help out as much, she brought Cox a card — with a $200 contribution. Cox said that he could not believe it when he opened the card and found her donation, knowing that she needed the money herself, but instead chose to help children she did not even know.

Then there was a local couple who refurbished hundreds of used bicycles as good as new for Country Santa to give away. They did it for the love of children, and the love of giving.

Cox thinks of people like that as heroes.

Country Santa’s list has grown quite long over the years. Each Christmas, more than 2,000 children are helped across the Upstate of South Carolina.

The Country Santa operation begins in full swing the first week of December each year, as Cox closes his business, John S. Cox and Associates in Pickens, the entire month in order to work as Country Santa.

Karen Dodgens, his assistant, works with him, diligently assorting, arranging, and bagging new toys. Dodgens is also the one responsible for all of the paperwork and telephone calling for Country Santa, pulling together the information on around 900 families and putting that information in the Country Santa database, and getting directions to the families’ homes for all of the volunteer ‘elves’ who deliver toys on Christmas Eve.

Longtime ‘elves’ Bob Spalding, Tim Scully, and Eric Breazel work many long hours at the Country Santa workshop in Pumpkintown.

They also have help from students and other volunteers, and they work every day until Christmas Eve, listening to Christmas music in the Country Santa workshop and eating Christmas cookies while they work.

The estimated value of donated toys and bikes is $140,000 each Christmas.

Country Santa spends about $25,000 from cash donations to buy toys from local stores. He receives strange looks from other shoppers when he nearly clears out a section of toys. Someone may ask, ‘How many children do you have?’ 2,000 is the answer.

Country Santa’s helpers deliver the toys on Christmas Eve, but they are not allowed to wear Santa suits or other costumes.

Cox said that he does not let the true meaning of Christmas become lost, and he points to a small figure in his home—that of a Santa Claus kneeling before the Christ child. In each bag of toys, he said, is a note, ‘With love from Jesus and Country Santa.’

“I am not fond of Christmas being commercialized,” said Cox, “but the toys are a way to show the children and their family that someone cares about them, that they have not been forgotten, that there is hope and happiness to be shared during the most important time of the year, truly with love from Jesus and Country Santa.”

Another Santa figure is in his home—a Santa plopped down, exhausted, in a chair. That is how he feels on Christmas Eve, he said, after all of the toys have been delivered and Country Santa is finished for the season.

But he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I don’t know what it’s like to sit around a Christmas tree, sing carols, and roast chestnuts,” he said. “This is what Christmas is to me.”

Dodgens said that sometimes they are unsure if a request can be filled, but somehow things work out.

Once, a child requested a life-sized Barbie doll, and, with the high demand for the expensive toy, Dodgens did not think one would be donated. It wasn’t long before someone drove up, wanting to donate an item — a life-sized Barbie doll.

Miracles just seem to happen.

Is it any wonder, when the road Country Santa’s workshop is on—Reece Lane—turns off a road named Miracle Hill.

Anyone wanting to volunteer, donate toys, or make a cash donation may contact Country Santa at 864-898-4422 or through the website at www.countrysanta.org.