First ever Black Santa represents NGO at event

A  Black Santa visited Vila Cruzeiro favela in Rio arriving by helicopter for a food distribution event. The NGO hosting the event, Unified Favelas Central (CUFA), has been working in Brazil's favelas for over 20 years and wanted to present a more socially representative Santa this year.

CUFA held 200 similar events throughout Brazil on Thursday in which a Black Santa Claus greeted the children. It is the first time many of the children living in those communities have seen a Black Santa. The food distribution efforts are taking place throughout Brazil in the final two days before Christmas. They are set to provide a total of 380,000 food aid packages to families in need.