Email   Print   Share By Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious July 19, 2012 | Leisure

Dave Gauvey, better known as Santa Claus, talks to a guest at Outback Steakhouse during Christmas in July. Gauvey has been Santa Claus for Santa’s Workshop for eight years. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Brig. Gen. Dean Milner, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general (Canada), thanks everyone in attendance at the Christmas in July fundraiser for Santa’s Workshop at Outback Steakhouse July 12. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Carolyn Crissman, Santa’s Workshop president, and Dave Gauvey, Santa’s Workshop Santa Claus, thank the Christmas in July guests for their generous commitment to Santa’s Workshop. Erin Rogers, Sentinel Leisure Editor

Fort Hood’s Santa’s Workshop celebrated its 14th year of Christmas in July at Outback Steakhouse in Killeen July 12.

Every year, Outback Steakhouse closes its doors to the public and hosts Christmas in July for the Fort Hood community for an early kick-off to the Christmas season. Christmas in July is Santa’s Workshop’s largest fundraiser of the year.

“Because this has been going on for so long, Christmas in July is something that people look forward to every year, it’s something they look for,” Carolyn Crissman,

president of Fort Hood’s Santa’s Workshop, said. “There are many folks who have been coming to this for 14 years. This is the kick-off for the season.”

The Christmas in July fundraiser brings in anywhere from $4,000-6,000 every year from the tickets sold, which goes straight to the Santa’s Workshop fund.

Kathy Hersey, vice president of Santa’s Workshop, said that not only is it an excellent fundraiser for the cause, it’s a great way for the community to come together and see what they do.

“It’s a great meal for a great cause,” Hersey said.

Crissman echoed Hersey’s comments by adding that Christmas in July gives everyone a chance to help out with the goals of Santa’s Workshop.

“People always want to support the military, but they don’t always know how,” Crissman said. “And of course everyone wants kids to be happy, especially on the holidays. Santa’s Workshop is great because this is an easy way for anyone to help.”

Bill White, owner and manager of Killeen’s Outback Steakhouse, said he absolutely looks forward to hosting Christmas in July every year, because as a civilian, this is how he can help the Army.

“The biggest thing we can do as civilians is take care of the Families here at home base while their Soldiers are away,” White said. “It takes the weight off of their shoulders knowing their Families are being looked after at home, so they can continue their missions.”

White told the guests in attendance at the 11 a.m. seating of Christmas in July that when he first started hosting this, he initially thought they were just taking care of these kids, but he now knows that they are also taking care of America’s Soldiers, as well.

The money made for Santa’s Workshop this year is sure to make a difference in hundreds of children’s lives, because of the two separate settings for Christmas in July that both filled Outback to capacity, each ticket being $15.

“All of the food for the event is donated by Outback, and the money from the tickets goes straight to Santa’s Workshop. When you think about it, $15 is less than what you’d usually pay for a dinner out – and this one is for a great cause,” Hersey said.

The buffet line at the event included staple choices from Outback’s menu, such as a choice between grilled chicken and steak, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed green beans and, of course, their signature honey wheat Bushman Bread.

Santa’s Workshop’s sponsorship unit is Fort Hood’s own 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and their rear detachment commander, Col. Knowles Atchison, was in attendance at the first setting to thank everyone for how much they support the goals of Santa’s Workshop.

“We’re going to see how many children we can make smile at Christmas,” Atchison said. “That’s why Fort Hood is called ‘The Great Place’ - because of things like Santa’s Workshop.”

Crissman didn’t let her appreciation for what 13th ESC does for Santa’s Workshop and its cause go unknown when she said, “We are always so thankful for what the 13th ESC does for us. We could not exist on this installation without them.”

Brig. Gen. Dean Milner, III Corps and Fort Hood deputy commanding general (Canada), was present at Christmas in July’s second setting, and also thanked everyone for supporting the Santa’s Workshop cause.

“Over 1,400 Families will be able to rest easy on Christmas this year, thanks to the hard work of Santa’s Workshop,” Milner said. “You work hard all year long, and the results are always happy children during the holidays – putting smiles on their faces is the ultimate goal of

Christmas.”