Beach Santa is a celebrity on Isle of Palms, SC, where he began picking up litter almost four years ago, doing his part to keep the beach beautiful and protect the natural world.

In summer 2018, he joined the new Isle of Palms Cleanup Crew and started tracking his trash stats with help from the South Carolina Aquarium's conservation team. Since then, he has officially collected more than 81,000 pieces of litter on Isle of Palms, and nearly 40,000 additional trash items in other public spaces, mostly around Berkeley County, where he makes his home (when he's not at the North Pole). His total collection in 1 1/2 years? An astounding 120,354 litter items!

On top of that, Beach Santa stays busy volunteering with his church and keeps an active holiday schedule, including appearances with nonprofits and businesses. When offered payment, he instead encourages donations to Charleston's Ronald McDonald House, which provides a "home-away-from-home” for families when children undergo extensive medical treatment.

Beach Santa often tries to keep a low profile, going by the name of Howard Hogue and telling people he's retired from the military and a teaching career. But for all he does, all year long, he deserves the spotlight. So let's thank Santa by supporting Ronald McDonald House in his honor and sharing this opportunity with others. It will warm his heart this season!

Special Note: Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity, an efficient way to do good.