All this Thanksgiving weekend, from Friday to Sunday, Sailor Claus and his elves will have a bus set up in the parking lot of Fall River’s Walmart Supercenter for donations.

“It’s a ludicrously grassroots group, but it keeps extending and growing organically every year. This region has a massive love for its veterans,” said M.P. Feitelberg, who participates in a group that organizes toy and clothing drives every holiday season for the children of military families in need on behalf of the Providence VA Medical Center.

The founder of the group, who goes by Sailor Claus, said he doesn’t do this for credit or ceremony. From 1973-76, Sailor Claus served as part of Operations Intelligence on board the USS Midway CV-41 Aircraft Carrier, decommissioned in 1992. “I’m a patient at the Providence VA. I decided to hold a toy drive as my way of giving back. I’ve been doing it every year since,” he said.

The roots of the movement come from the Providence center’s annual Holiday Giving Tree; decorated with paper ornaments identifying the names and wish-lists of veterans’ children, staff members choose families to sponsor. Supporters of the center and its cause decided to take the idea on the road to make sure no family was missed.

“We don’t provide all the toys. We’re just elves for the Providence VA. We are only one part, but we are the biggest group for them,” said Feitelberg.

Now in its fifth year, the VA Hospital Toy Drive for SouthCoast Military Kids works with various business and organizations on hosting public events, as well as installing drop-off bins at locations across the region. In addition to Providence, the group’s efforts also serve veterans cared for by the medical centers in Brockton and West Haven, Connecticut.

For the first time, the gift drive will collect and donate to the veterans clinic in New Bedford. “I try and do more each year, and New Bedford is the next closest hospital,” said Sailor Claus.

Last year, the group brought in more than $60,000 worth of toys, including 78 bicycles. This year, the tally will expand as the group has more drop-off boxes, topping at more than 50 bins.

Each year brings increasing support and acknowledgment thanks to word of mouth. An anecdote shared by Sailor Claus was receiving a Christmas letter with a check for the toy drive from Admiral Scott Swift, who commands the 7th Naval Fleet in the Pacific. “Anytime a sailor gets correspondence from someone that high up is a big deal,” said Sailor Claus.

All recipients are children of veterans who are patients at the VA. How the toy and gift drive works: Each VA hospital has its own list of kids, from infants to age 17, who get registered and classified as in need by social workers. The kids create wish-lists. Once all the donations are collected, they are brought to the Providence center where staff and social workers sort and match donations according to the wish-lists.

“It’s a massive marathon task that goes on for days. It leaves everyone exhausted,” explained Feitelberg. Upon completion, the donations are distributed to all linked centers in Brockton, West Haven, and New Bedford in time for Christmas.

All this Thanksgiving weekend, from Friday to Sunday, Sailor Claus and his elves will have a bus set up in the parking lot of Fall River’s Walmart Supercenter for donations. Titled “Stuff-A-Bus,” the group will accept toys, clothes, and gift cards. They will also accept checks and money orders just as long as it is made to the “V.A. Medical Center, V.A. Giving Tree.” As explained, they don’t ever accept cash donations.

“I don’t want there to be any question that the money isn’t going to where it belongs,” said Sailor Claus.

Sailor Claus acts as the mascot for the group at all gift drives. “My character will do anything for a donation. I talk to people, take pictures, and do whatever I can. If someone wants to do a promo and get some good publicity for their business or organization, Sailor Claus will be happy to do that,” he said.

The deadline for the VA Hospital Gift Drive is Dec. 9, though donations in drop-off bins will be accepted after. As Sailor Claus explains, “stragglers will be gathered up and donated to needy families.”

If you can’t make it to this weekend’s gift drive at the Fall River Walmart, 638 Quequechan St., or you can’t find a drop-off bin for VA Hospital Toy Drive, checks can be made out to the Providence V.A. Medical Center, V.A. Giving Tree. For tax purposes the Federal ID number is 050259410F. Interested parties may also call the Providence center at 401-273-7100, ext. 2023, and speak with the Chief of Voluntary Services Donna Russillo.