Operation Santa Claus to Visit Shriners Hospital Again

Tomorrow, December 15, as in past years, Kiss Country will join Bossier Sheriff Deputies, Shreveport Police Officers, Shreveport Firefighters and Santa Claus to put a smile on children’s faces at Shriners Hospital for our annual “Barney Cannon Smile Run.”

Together we'll help Santa give toys to patients at the children’s hospital in front of the big Christmas tree.  Then, we'll all go outside and enjoy playing in the foam “snow” made by the Shreveport firefighters.

OSC began in 1984 and is an effort involving the Bossier Sheriff’s Office, Shreveport Police and Fire Departments and Townsquare Media to help bring Christmas cheer to children in our area.  Donations of new toys and monies have allowed the first responders the opportunity this year, to help about 1,000 less-fortunate children have a much brighter Christmas, including the patients at Shriners.

The day is named after Barney Cannon, a radio personality with KWKH who loved to make people smile.  He was known for ending his radio show with, “May God be with you and you be with God.  And you're never fully dressed unless you're wearing a big ole' smile.”

Barney passed away in 2009, and the visit to Shriners is named after him, since one of the primary goals of Operation Santa Claus is to put a big ole’ smile on the faces of children.