In Northern California, Major Rio Ray aims to spread the spirit of Christmas during the holidays and beyond.

How great would it be to have Santa on speed dial?

For The Salvation Army in Northern California, the initiated know who to call when they need a hand from the North Pole.

It’s Major Rio Ray, Sacramento (California) County Coordinator and Sacramento Citadel Corps Officer, who embraces the role of Santa to make Christmas special for those The Salvation Army is serving.

Ray doesn’t hesitate when the calls come in for Santa across The Salvation Army Del Oro Division.

“I let my beard grow out full all holiday season,” he said, adding he then dyes his beard and hair white for the Christmas party at The Salvation Army E. Claire Raley Transitional Living Center, going “full Santa” for the occasion.

“I do my best to be an example of hope to people. That’s the goal.”
Major Rio Ray

“He is ‘Mr. Christmas,’” said Del Oro Divisional Director of Corporate Engagement Guy Farris. “He is our biggest advocate when it comes to Red Kettles and Angel Tree. And he can always be counted on to dress up as Santa for our holiday events.”

Those events don’t just fall in December. In July, Ray was a surfin’ Santa at the Del Oro Division’s Christmas in July event for under-resourced children in Sacramento, where more than 100 kids received toys donated by Mattel and photos with “Surfin’ Santa.”

“The more the gray [hair color] comes in, the easier it is to pull off,” he said.

Ray said his alternate persona allows him to transcend the stress the holidays can bring.

“When you face the Christmas season as a Salvation Army officer, you’re looking at 16 to 17-hour days, working every day,” he said. “I think you have to embrace the good that you’re doing and hold on to that; otherwise, you just get lost in the busyness of it all…I try to keep a really positive attitude, and it carries me through.”

That attitude influences the people around him, too.

“Major Rio is my go-to guy when I need advice, guidance or support, and yes, especially when I need him to dress up as Santa for an event,” Farris said.

One thing Ray said he likes about the holidays is engaging with people and telling them The Salvation Army story—people he might not encounter the rest of the year.

Christmas gifts for local children in need. Courtesy Major Rio Ray.

“I love the impact of Christmas,” Ray said. “I love that I get to help so many people. I love the fact that we also get to help people help others. Because there’s somebody who wants to be part of something, and they can be part of us during Christmas and they know they’ve made a difference.”

And the difference The Salvation Army makes for children at Christmas is significant. Ray said in 2023, The Salvation Army in Sacramento received donations of more than 10,000 toys, ensuring over 6,000 local kids had a happy Christmas.

“I do take particular joy in the fact that in Sacramento, 2,000 families will wake up with toys underneath the tree for the kids on Christmas morning,” Ray said. “And the kids that open these presents will not know The Salvation Army. They will not know me, they will not know the donors that gave, but they’ll have that joy of Christmas.”

For Mr. Christmas, the last bellringing day in December is special. That’s when the 6’3”-tall Ray exchanges his Santa suit for an elf costume and rings the bell at a red kettle. For every $20 donation, he does an elf dance. He said people always come by to see him dance.

“I get to bring some fun into people’s lives,” he said. “That’s a really sweet thing to do, because people are in such a rush.”

Ray suggested it’s the spirit of Mr. Christmas that people are looking for, as much as the gifts.

“It always feels good to give out toys and food, but it’s better to give out joy and hope,” Ray said. “Right now in our world, so many people are just shackled and depressed. They feel like there’s no hope for tomorrow, and that’s a really sad state…When they can meet somebody who is kind and compassionate, I think that means so much to them.

“I do my best to be an example of hope to people,” he said. “That’s the goal.”

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