Salvage Santa Has Made His Last Ride

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – One local Christmas tradition is coming to an end. Salvage Santa is closing up his workshop at the end of this Christmas season.
Mike Jones, or better known as Salvage Santa himself, has been collecting bikes and refurbishing old ones to give to kids in need for more than 40 years.
On NewsChannel 7 Today, Jones announced that he is stepping back from the role to enjoy his retirement and spend time with family. He said his six grandchildren keep him pretty busy.
Jones said there are people and organizations in the community that he hopes will continue parts of the program, but as the community knows he is leaving behind big shoes to fill.
Although the workshop may be closing up, Jones said it is not the last the community will see of him.
As he looks to focus of his many hobbies, Christmas trees play a big part in that. The avid gardener has already planted many Christmas trees with more on the way. He says in a few years when they are grown and ready, he will be giving them away. You may even see Jones back in a Santa hat handing out hot chocolate at his tree lot.
Until then, the community’s appreciation for Salvage Santa shows.

We Miss You Santa – Happy New Year 2024

Thank You Salvage Santa for 40 incredible years

We wish Salvage Santa all the best in his retirement. And Thank you Salvage Santa for visiting so many children’s homes on that most special day of the year, Christmas. Your kindness, generosity, and dedication to the family’s of Panama City and Bay Co will never be forgotten. God Bless you.

Watch this space for updates on who and when will take over for Salvage Santa. No doubt many will come together to take up the cause and when those details are known we will pass them along to you.

About

Salvage Santa

In his everyday life, Mike Jones is a retired police officer, father, husband and friend, but then like a super hero, he becomes “Salvage Santa” providing bikes and toys to needy kids in and around Panama City.

Mike got the idea for Salvage Santa while working at a department store. He was deeply troubled by the numbers of toys and bikes that were being returned and often destroyed when they only needed minor repairs. He offered to repair them if he could then give them away to families who couldn’t afford to buy toys for their kids. The store agreed and Salvage Santa was born. Since that time mike has helped recondition and provide bikes and toys to thousands of children, blessing families throughout the area.

Many People think that the job starts in December, but in reality, it is a January to December endeavor. Under the alias of “Salvage Santa, Jones repairs the forgotten toys and broken bicycles and then delivers them to hundreds of children throughout Bay County who may not have had the family resources to buy cool toys or a shiny new bike.

Over the years, Salvage Santa has become a hero in the community and has brought joy and countless smiles to children all across the area.

The Cop Who Saved Christmas
On a very special holiday episode of Returning the Favor: Mike and his jolly crew of producers bring the North Pole to sunny Panama City, Florida in hopes of surprising the Salvage Santa (Mike Jones). A local hero, who spends all year refurbishing old bikes out of his tiny Santa workshop and distributes them to children during the holidays.
Posted by Returning The Favor on Monday, December 18, 2017