CONWAY, Ark. — A Conway man is already stocking up on Christmas gifts to deliver to hundreds of kids all around Arkansas this holiday season.
Eric Lamb calls himself “Black Santa.”
We introduced you to him last year as he was loading up his truck (or sleigh!) with presents. He began preparing for this Christmas in January.
"This year is going amazing. I'm way ahead than I've ever been. I start shopping the day after Christmas and right now I've got enough stuff for 80 or 90 kids,” Lamb said.
Lamb cooks and sells meals every Friday to save up money to buy gifts for kids. He started “Eric’s Christmas Miracles Ministry” five years ago. He said God called him to help as many kids as possible.
“I call them my little lambs because my last name Lamb!” he said.
Last year, 235 kids received presents. Lamb personally delivers every single gift to every single home in Arkansas.
“I take off most of December. I save most of my vacation days for this,” he said.
And although it is July, Lamb's home already looks like the North Pole.
He even had to rent a storage room to fit the over 700 toys he has accumulated so far. He buys most of his gifts on sale at Belk’s and Walmart.
"I even got blessed this year with drones to give to these kids,” he said.
Lamb said he has received applications from families everywhere. Families have until Sept. 15 to apply for gifts from him.
"I've got a lot of people in the flood that got damage. They lost everything,” he said. “few in Conway, Little Rock, Forth Smith, Monitcello.”
He also said this year most kids are not asking for much.
"The only thing they're asking for this year is they want some blankets and some clothes because they've never owned a new pair of clothes in their life,” Lamb said.
While Lamb makes his list and checks it twice, he said Black Santa is excited to bring Christmas to more kids this year.
"I feel like they are my kids. I'm going to buy for them what I'd buy for my kids,” he said.
If you would like to make a donation to help Lamb out this year, you can message him on his Facebook page.
His goal is to surpass 250 kids.