For the past decade, Santa on the Porch and J&J’s Homeless Pet Rescue have been quite the dynamic duo.

Every year, Tommy and Barbie Alligood don the outfits of Santa and Mrs. Claus, welcoming area children to their River Road home to share their Christmas wishes with the man in red.

This year marked 20 years of Santa on the Porch, and as always, residents lined up half an hour early for the event last Saturday. The Alligoods usually expect to see about 400 people at their home.

Before Santa on the Porch, the Alligoods used to visit places around town, such as nursing homes, but decided to make it a home-based event to which families could come. Barbie Alligood said she starts preparing as early as October.

“It takes a lot. … My husband, I think he wants to keep doing it until he’s 100 years old,” she said. “He absolutely loves being Santa.”

Besides the main attraction, however, tents are set up to the side, at which residents can give donations to the Washington-based J&J’s — monetary donations or pet food.

Jim Thompson, who runs J&J’s with wife Joanne (along with their regular, daytime jobs), said the pet rescue received about $150 and about the same amount worth of pet food from last Saturday’s event.

According to Thompson, the donations tent is handled completely by the Alligoods.

“In the beginning, you know, with our intake and budget allure, it was like two or three months (worth of yearly resources),” Thompson said. “They do all the work.”

Alligood said she and her husband heard about the pet rescue from a friend. Currently housing about 40 pets, J&J’s is dedicated to saving strays, getting them cleaned up and up to date on shots, and finding them homes, she said.

“For one thing, we love dogs,” Alligood said. “I said, ‘You know what? We’ll help you out.’”

Thompson said having a presence at Santa on the Porch helps raise awareness about what J&J’s does. With more exposure, comes more donations, too, he said.

The pet rescue also receives pet food donations from Walmart, according to Thompson.

For the Alligoods, Santa on the Porch is a lot of work, but it means spreading some Christmas cheer, while also helping out with a good cause.

“They do such a good thing,” Alligood said. “We’ve enjoyed it.”