What began in 1986 with a sole donation box at Goodson’s Café in Tomball, has grown into one of the largest holiday giving projects in the local community.

The Tomball-Magnolia Christmas Cheer Project is an organization made possible by a joint community effort. Founded by Neil Mac Donald, the project started with a single donation box for toys at the restaurant’s entrance 26 years ago. Mac Donald said that whatever was donated was given back to struggling families in the Tomball and Magnolia area.

The growing program was soon renamed Tomball-Magnolia Christmas Cheer.

Each year, the program has increased and was extended to include the Tomball Nursing Center on Peach Street and individual visits by Santa to the homes of children who would not have a Christmas, according to Mac Donald.

Different community organizations, businesses and individuals have continued to donate toys to Christmas Cheer in order to provide a better Christmas to struggling families and elderly in the area.

Major contributors over the years have been Concordia Lutheran High School National Honor Society, Tomball Lion’s Club, Lone Star College – Tomball, St. Matthias Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Tomball Ford, Hawg Hollow Chili Cook-Off and several individuals within the community.

Last year, Mac Donald said Christmas Cheer distributed about 1,250 gifts to individuals in Tomball Regional Hospital, nursing homes and 78 families. The families are recommendations from local churches, individuals, TEAM of Tomball and Society of Samaritans in Magnolia.

Mac Donald said he is expecting about 100 families, representing 300 children, to register to receive gifts this Christmas. The organization is in need of more donations such as gifts for children between the ages of three and 12, gifts for the elderly or monetary donations.

As of press time, the organization has had 35 families register for toys for Christmas.

He will also return to Tomball Regional Hospital on Christmas Eve, as well as the Tomball Nursing Center.

On Christmas Eve at 2 p.m. Mac Donald and other volunteers, better known as Santa and his elves will meet at Tomball Regional Hospital to distribute gifts to the patients that have to spend Christmas in the hospital. From there, they will go to the senior citizens’ home on Peach Street to distribute gifts and stuffed animals to all of the residents. Around 6 p.m., Santa will begin to deliver gifts to children in individual homes in Tomball and Magnolia.

For more donation information or enrollment forms, call Mac Donald at 281-221-9539 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To donate, send to TM Christmas Cheer Project, Inc., 30943 Sunflower Ln., Magnolia, TX 77354.

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