Santa Claus is coming to town. But this time around, St. Nick will be decked out in a Hawaiian shirt and sunscreen. “Christmas in July, A Texas Tech Physicians CanPaign,” will benefit the South Plains Food Bank in hopes of bringing much needed food items to those in need during the summer months.

A Christmas in July celebration will conclude the month-long CanPaign from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday (July 25) at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Academic Classroom Building courtyard, 3601 Fourth St. A presentation will be made to the South Plains Food Bank at 2:30 p.m.

The South Plains Food Bank serves more than 9,000 families in need every month. Matt Driskill, Texas Tech Physicians — Eye Clinic administrator, said this has been a unified effort to help end hunger on the South Plains.

“We always hear of the great efforts made during the Christmas holidays, but Texas Tech Physicians wanted to have an internal competition to help the South Plains Food Bank during the summer months,” Driskill said. “Each week the various Texas Tech Physicians departments focused on items most needed by the food bank.”

Driskill said organizers wanted to do a play on the date July 25, as this summer’s Christmas Day. Texas Tech Physicians employees will gather to have summer fun with volleyball, horseshoes, pie throwing contests and other fun games to raise more money for the food bank.

“We have had wonderful support from everyone wanting to give back to our community,” Driskill said. “Dr. Steven Berk, our School of Medicine dean even kicked off the CanPaign with a video celebrating Christmas in July and getting Texas Tech Physicians excited about these summer efforts.”

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