Santa’s Operative : Jolly Jerry Looker and Wife Jacki Deliver the Goods

With his red suit, snowy white beard and slight paunch, it’s easy to mistake Jerry Looker for Santa Claus.

Not only does he make toys, but he also delivers presents for needy children during the holidays--just like Santa. He also loves babies.

All he’s missing is a sleigh and some reindeer.

This time of year, Looker is frequently mistaken for the jolly old elf because he volunteers with Operation Santa Claus, a countywide campaign to collect and distribute toys and gifts to foster-care children, homebound seniors and others in need.

The resemblance between the program’s namesake and Looker has not gone unnoticed, by both the children he occasionally entertains at parties and by others who work on the toy drive.

“He’s doesn’t have the typical rosy cheeks, but he’s got great twinkly eyes,” said Joanne Noyes, coordinator of the local Operation Santa Claus. “And if it pertains to kids, he does it. He’s all around, wherever you need something done.”

Looker comes with a Mrs. Claus: Jacki Looker volunteers with Operation Santa Claus too, driving the couple’s 15-passenger van to pick up donations from businesses and corporations.

“She picks up toys from all over Orange County, and it’s not a minor task,” Noyes said. “She fills every nook and cranny of that huge van, and she’s this tiny little lady.”

Jerry often accompanies Jacki on the pickups, which she makes daily from Dec. 11 through Dec. 23.

“We’ve gone to insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, schools and doctors offices,” Jacki said.

One year the couple picked up 150 teddy bears from Robinsons-May at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

“Sometimes the things we pick up are really neat,” Jerry said. He once picked up a half-dozen new bikes from Looney’s, a doughnut shop near their home in Orange.

Both Lookers help sort and stock toys, clothing and other gifts at the Operation Santa Claus Store in Santa Ana. The donations go to Orangewood Children’s Home, foster-care parents licensed through the County of Orange Social Services Agency, and county social workers who provide presents to seniors and children who have been abused or neglected.

Foster parents receive coupons that they redeem at a separate store in Anaheim for a certain number of gifts per child, depending on the quantity of donations.

Last year, 26,000 children and 900 seniors received presents through the program.

The Social Services Agency runs the toy drive in collaboration with Orangewood, the U.S. Marine Corps and other organizations and corporations.

“It’s a joint effort to make sure every child in Orange County gets a present,” Noyes said.

Occasionally, Jerry dons his red suit and white wig and plays Santa for the toy drive’s promotional events.

“I enjoy it, except for those who tug at my hair,” joked Jerry, rubbing a hand ruefully over his bald head.

Sometimes he gets to watch the children open their presents.

“Some are real appreciative. They want to open them right at your feet,” he said. “You get a warm glow.”

Jerry, 62, and Jacki, 54, started volunteering at Operation Santa Claus seven years ago.

“Anything to do with kids, we do,” Jacki said. “We’re sort of kid crazy. I’m from a very large family. My mother came from a family of 12, and all my life I’ve taken care of other people’s kids--cousins, first cousins and second cousins.”

The Lookers usually have two foster-care infants in their home. Thirteen years ago, after raising their own four children, they began offering emergency shelter care through Social Services, taking in babies born with drugs in their systems.

“The only way to calm them is to hold them tight,” Jerry said. “If we have two that are really fussy, we’ll each be holding a baby.”

They pick up the newborns from the hospital and keep them for periods ranging from “10 minutes to 2 1/2 years,” said Jerry, until the babies are adopted, placed in long-term foster homes or returned to their families. Saying goodbye to the babies is hard.

“People ask, ‘Why did you become a foster parent?’ I always say, ‘Because somebody needs to.’ Babies have to learn how to bond,” Jacki said. “At 3 in the morning we might wonder why we do this, but we really enjoy having the babies. Newborns are easier to raise than teenagers. When you put them down someplace, they stay there.”

Jacki heard about Operation Santa Claus through the foster care program at Social Services. She collected at her house toys from local Girl Scout troops, transporting the donations to the toy-drive headquarters. Soon Jerry was volunteering too.

One of the Lookers would hold a baby while the other loaded and unloaded the van.

Jerry has always worked with children; he taught woodworking at Villa Park High before retiring six years ago to devote more time to his toy-making and foster care.

He makes cradles, armoires, school desks, beds and other doll furniture in his garage. Every weekend in December, he travels to holiday craft shows in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Reno and throughout California to sell his wares.

“This time of year is extremely busy for crafters, just like for retailers,” he said.

Still, both Lookers find the time to play Santa:

“It’s really hard for people to donate time this time of year, but somehow you do it,” Jacki said. “It just gives you such a good feeling to do something for these kids.”

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Donation boxes for Operation Santa Claus are available through Dec. 23 at county libraries, Claim Jumper restaurants, Subway restaurants, Toys “R” Us and Sav-On Drugs. Deliveries can also be made to the Operation Santa Claus Store, 1928 S. Grand, Building C, Santa Ana. (714) 245-6053 or (714) 778-3383.

Checks and gift certificates can be mailed to Operation Santa Claus, 888 N. Main St., Building 152, Santa Ana CA 92701.

The Gift of Time

Know someone who gives the gift of his or her time to help others? Please tell us about those unheralded folks who try to make a difference. Send us your tips--and please include your name and telephone number as well as theirs--by facsimile to (714) 966-7790 or by mail to Gift of Time, Life & Style section, Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.