A man dressed as Santa Claus dances with homeless persons during an event by the Sao Paulo Invisible NGO, hands out food for the homeless in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dec 21, 2021. (ANDRE PENNER / AP)

RIO DE JANEIRO - Santa Claus strode into the Brazil's City of God favela this week, delivering much-needed Christmas cheer to some of Rio de Janeiro's poorest children.

Dressed in an unseasonably warm red suit and jacket, with an artificial white beard strapped to his chin, Santa Claus was mobbed as he handed out toys and food to kids whose community has been hit hard by a bruising coronavirus pandemic, galloping inflation, few jobs and years of gang violence.

"They really need these things," said the anonymous Santa Claus, who declined to give his real name. Children swarmed Santa, wrapping him in hugs.

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A man dressed as Santa Claus descends the Sugar Loaf Mountain in a tram decorated as a sleigh, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dec 18, 2021. (BRUNA PRADO / AP)

A man dressed as Santa Claus embraces a homeless woman during an event by the Sao Paulo Invisible NGO, hands out food for the homeless in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dec 21, 2021. (ANDRE PENNER / AP)

Santa Claus was lured to the City of God, one of Rio's most iconic - and dangerous - slums, by Shirlei Carmo da Silva, a 44-year-old local resident, who organizes an annual present donation scheme for local kids. Each year, she puts their names and photos on social media, seeking donations. She said she was shocked by the positive response she got this year.

"I thought I would only get enough for 30 kids but in the end we got enough for 120," she said.

Aquarist Volmer Salvador swims inside a tank at the AquaRio aquarium dressed in a Santa Claus costume during the Christmas season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dec 20, 2021. (BRUNA PRADO / AP)

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With an infant in her arms, Luana Dos Santos Pires said she was very grateful for any help she could get this Christmas.

"I'm very happy and this is very important for me," she said. "The children here need it so much."