The Merthyr Mendicants relies wholly upon the efforts of its volunteers, who give up their time periodically throughout the year to attend the monthly meetings, assist in organising public events and social evenings, man collection points in the town centre and escort the Santa's sleigh around selected  areas of the Borough in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Parents and grandparents have told us that Christmas is not really Christmas until the Mendicant's Santa sleigh appears in their street. That magical moment when the children meet  with Santa, many for the first time and the delight on parent's faces, creates a memory that will remain with young children well into adulthood.