ROBSTOWN — Santa Claus was a 12-year-old handing out toys to every student at Lotspeich Elementary School on Dec. 16.
Since he was just 7, Nate Gonzalez has been spreading Christmas cheer across the community, collecting toys to donate to foster children. Over the past five years, the effort has expanded though his organization, Nate’s Next Kid Up.
On Dec. 12, Gonzalez was honored by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services with the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence. His service in the community includes activities, out-of-town field trips, back-to-school drives and holiday donations for foster children. Gonzalez is a sixth grader at St. John Paul II Academy.
The Caller-Times highlighted Gonzalez in 2022, detailing how his dream to share toys with other children began.
Gonzalez still collects toy donations for foster children, but he also now visits two elementary schools each December. Robstown Independent School District’s Lotspeich Elementary School and Corpus Christi Independent School District’s Oak Park Elementary School were the campuses chosen this year.
At Lotspiech Elementary school, Gonzalez appeared in Santa attire and handed a toy to each kid. Nate’s Next Kid Up also arranged for partners including In The Game Funtrackers, Chick-fil-A and Papa John’s to attend with costumed mascots and coupons to distribute. The Corpus Christi Hooks handed out candy canes and hats.
Nate Gonzalez, 12, distributes toys to every student at Lotspeich Leadership Academy Elementary School in Robstown on Dec. 16.
Lotspeich Elementary School Principal Jacqueline Padilla said that teachers began telling students about the special event last week, and the school also shared the news on Facebook to encourage all students to come to school on Dec. 16 so that they didn’t miss out.
Even so, the first thing Gonzalez asked Padilla after the children filtered out and he was presented with a thank-you basket from the school was whether any kids were absent.
He wanted to leave toys for any students who weren’t at school that day.
“We feel so blessed to be chosen, for our kids to have the opportunity to get a gift,” Padilla said, noting that not all kids in the community have toys at home.
According to Texas Education Agency data, close to 9 out of 10 students at the school are considered economically disadvantaged.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Young founder of Nate’s Next Kid Up earns state honor