HOUSTON — Like a lot of Houstonians, Richard Reyes is still cleaning up the mess and counting up the costs of damage caused by Hurricane Beryl. His home in the Aldine area was flooded with about a foot of water.
"In a matter of half an hour, it went from there to there," Reyes told Houston Public Media while pointing from his front door to his back wall. "It flew in like a waterfall."
Editor's note: The above video originally aired in December 2023.
Reyes said the storm also uprooted two big trees, damaging his roof and he lost power and water for several days.
The 73-year-old who most people know as Pancho Claus has been delivering joy and Christmas gifts to thousands of low-income children for more than four decades.
Now, he must swallow his pride and ask the community for help.
“I have a lot to fix and replace. If you would like to help with a couple of bucks it would be very much appreciated,” Reyes posted on Facebook. “I received no salary from Pancho Claus and live on my Social Security.
cash app @ $panchoclause
Zelle @ 713 208 0606
( my legal name Ellis Reyes will appear)
Thanks & God Bless”
Reyes just moved to the neighborhood a few years ago but he said his neighbors have been wonderful.
"Five years is not a long time to know your neighbors but this guy here to the left of me he, that’s his generator that we are using," Reyes said. "And that guy to the right of me, he came out with his saw to cut the tree. The guy across the street from me, he lent me his water pump to pump the water out."
He hopes to have the repairs done in time to prepare for his Pancho Claus duties. This will be his 43rd year of putting on the red zoot suit and driving around town in a low-rider to deliver gifts to children in low-income areas.
It started in 1981 when Reyes said he wrote a play called “Pancho Claus,” the Chicano version of “The Night Before Christmas.”
‘What to my wandering eye should appear, eight low rider cars dragged down in the rear.’ Lines like that. It got a lot of attention,” Reyes told us last December.
He hopes to hand out 20,000 toys again this Christmas.
“That’s what’s important. The smiles on the faces when they get something for Christmas,” Reyes told us.
Before he can start the planning and fund-raising, the “Tex-Mex Santa Claus,” who's also had health problems in recent years needs a little help to get back on his feet. A GoFundMe account has been set up for donations to repair Reyes’ home or if you'd like to donate to help buy toys, click here.