Long Beach’s holiday season got a little warmer—and a lot more generous thanks to RightMealz’s annual Santa Run & Plunge, taking place at the Downtown Long Beach eatery on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 8AM. Chris Sweeney, founder of RightMealz, is ushering in the third annual event, a spirited community-centered happening that has quickly grown from a small beachfront stunt into one of the city’s most joyful acts of giving.
“And this year is gonna be even more awesome as we go shopping for this Sunday’s event,” Chris said, while driving to pick up toys. “My good friends Maxx and Rachel Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders and Maxx Crosby foundation have given a thousand dollars just for toys. So, we’re gonna load my car up with some toys.”
And that is just the beginning.
Wait—what is RightMealz’s Santa Run & Plunge?
It began as a playful challenge among friends. Ru
n in Santa suits. Sprint into the cold December water. Raise some money for charity. And it has now transformed into a full-fledged toy drive powered by major community partners, including the Long Beach Fire Department, the LA Kings, and the aforementioned Maxx Crosby Foundation.
And it is Chris who has largely driven these relationships.
What can people expect this year—and how do they give some love back?
This year’s Santa Run & Plunge expands its impact with a simple but powerful call to action: bring a toy, lift a family’s holiday, and join hundreds of Santas along the shoreline.
To amplify donations, the LA Kings will provide exciting gifts to participants. The Maxx Crosby Foundation? They will contribute toys directly to the drive as mentioned above—turning what began as a grassroots effort into a high-impact, multi-partner movement. The Long Beach Fire Department’s involvement ensures that the toys reach the families who need them most.
In fact, toy distribution will be split evenly: half will stay in Long Beach, supporting local families, and half will be delivered to Altadena Station to support families affected by the recent fires. (This is not open to the public—more on that below.) For many of them, this will be their first holiday season without their usual traditions, making every single donation deeply meaningful.
As always, Chris is calling on runners, running clubs, and anyone with a pair of sneakers and a generous heart to show up with a toy in hand. And this year’s event offers even more reasons to participate: the Westside Sweat Club will host cold plunges and sauna sessions; the NBA’s Hyperice team will set up Normatec compression stations; and LB Fire, the LA Kings, and other partners will dish out an array of giveaways to keep spirits high and runners motivated. For those unable to attend day-of, Right Mealz is still making generosity easy—drop off a toy anytime in the days leading up to the plunge and receive 15% off your entire bill.
Why this year’s Santa Run & Plunge rightfully includes a toy drop for Altadena…
For Chris—whose RightMealz brand has long championed community wellness, accessibility, and uplifting neighbors—this event is a natural extension of his mission. The Santa Run & Plunge is funny, festive, cold, chaotic, and incredibly heartfelt. And with Chris continuing to expand its reach through strong partnerships and clear purpose, the event has become more than a seasonal stunt: it’s a symbol of how one person’s commitment can ripple outward, inspiring a city to show up for its own.
But this year’s event has a beautiful tangent: toys for families in Altadena, one of the region’s Black historic cores ripped apart earlier this year by fires.
When the Los Angeles fires of early 2025 displaced families across the foothill communities, Chris responded with the kind of decisiveness and compassion that came to define the overall dedication of the Greater Los Angeles people.
As evacuation orders expanded across Altadena and the surrounding areas, Chris mobilized his team to prepare and deliver hundreds of nutritious, ready-to-eat meals for firefighters, evacuees, and families suddenly without kitchens, groceries, or stability. Instead of waiting for a formal call for help, he leaned into the strength of his network—local gyms, nonprofits, and small businesses—to coordinate food distribution runs and meet immediate needs. His shop became a community hub overnight: a place to donate supplies, organize deliveries, and offer emotional support to those watching the fires from afar but desperate to help.
But Chris’s efforts went beyond food. Recognizing that many families had lost not just homes but the everyday resources that make recovery possible, he worked with partners to supply hygiene products, warm clothing, and basic necessities. He also helped connect Long Beach donors directly with fire-affected families, ensuring contributions went exactly where they were needed.
Altadena? That sacred space was an essential part of his efforts.
The third annual Santa Run & Plunge will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7, at 8AM in Downtown Long Beach at RightMealz, located at 420 E. 4th St. If you would like to participate, please bring a toy for children between the ages of three and 16.
