Santa Makes Early Stop in Norman

NORMAN, Oklahoma - While Santa usually travels in a sleigh, he was recently seen in Norman riding on a trolley.

But as always he was hard at work making sure boys and girls have a happy Christmas.

Christmas Eve is just three weeks away, so Santa was a little rushed as he picked up Christmas gifts on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Santa agreed to help out on OU's annual holiday gift drive. It's called Fill the Trolley.

"Fill the Trolley is an annual Cleveland area rapid transit initiative that really reaches out to the university community to help the Cleveland County community as a whole by donating gifts," Kris Glenn with the Cleveland Area Rapid Transit said.

That explains why Santa travelled from building to building on the OU trolley. It's really so much more convenient than a sleigh and reindeer. There was so much to do, so little time and so many donation boxes to pick up all over campus.

Despite all the pressure, Santa still had time for that little personal touch.

Once the trolley was filled, Santa and helpers rode to the Cleveland County Christmas Store. Later all the gifts will be distributed to needy kids and families.

It's easy to get into the holiday spirit at the Christmas Store. Many groups, churches and individuals have contributed, but OU's Fill the Trolley effort adds a lot.

"Oh, my gosh," Charlotte Lovett with the Cleveland County Christmas Store said. "Every year OU does better and better and this year OU has really helped a lot."

The Cleveland County Christmas Store will be open for shopping by its clients next week.