Despite a busy December schedule, it seems Santa has found time to make a couple of visits to the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of the Yukon.

On Tuesday, St. Nick arrived in his big red suit at the group's annual Christmas party to hand out gifts to 43 of FASSY's clients, leaving another 14 behind for others who couldn't make it to the celebration.

In the other visit, he quietly arrived, and though he may not have looked at all like Santa, he placed 10 $100-bills on the counter, telling staff it was for the group's crisis fund and that he didn't want a tax receipt.

'He said, I'm your Santa this year,'' Judy Pakozdy, FASSY's executive director, said in an interview this morning.

His donation was among the $6,725 that has come in for the fund which provides FASSY clients with items to help them make it through the month if they run out of money.

More also came in to go to Christmas presents for the clients. In addition to an item under $40 that each client asked for, Santa also handed out gloves and socks and some other small household gifts to party goers Tuesday.

When the crisis fund ran empty earlier this month, FASSY placed ads in the newspapers looking for donations.

'Most of our clients are on social assistance,' the ad explained.

'Because of their disability, many of our clients do not manage their money well enough to buy enough food to last for the month, to buy warm clothes, basic telephone service, nutritional supplements not covered by health insurance, special baby formula, etc. This fund assists them in these situations.'

In addition to the $1,000-donation from 'Santa', Pakozdy said there have been many 'amazing residents' dropping off donations which include not only cash, but a couple of cases of BOOST nutritional drink, Avon gift items and hats, mitts and socks from other groups.

Pakozdy estimated that between 20 and 25 clients use the crisis fund every month. And now there's money in it to start off the new year, she said.

In noting her appreciation for the donations that have come in, Pakozdy also said it didn't come as a big surprise after she told people of the need.

'I knew the people were out there,' she said, adding Yukoners are very generous.

In addition to the Christmas party held Tuesday night, a holiday dinner is also planned for the group next week.