Even Santa Claus has gone high tech these days, making sure he has precise information on how many children he needs to visit.

And the big guy up north knew just who to call to get this important information for the Ohio Valley.

The staff at the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission has his list, they’ve checked it twice, and they’re counting up all the data on kids who’ve been naughty and nice

BHJ says agencies contact them throughout the year for up-to-date information on this region, and Santa is no different.

The North Pole reports that Santa’s target audience is kids aged 5-to-9, so the BHJ put together a list of all the kids in the region in that age group.

They also reached out to one of their West Virginia partners — the Business Development Corporation — to help find Santa a large location to rest and store some of the toys.

Both businesses are preparing for Santa’s arrival.

“Santa called us up a few weeks ago,” said Mike Paprocki, executive director, BHJ. “He was looking for the 5-to-9-year-olds of those who reside down here in Brooke, Hancock in West Virginia, and Jefferson County in Ohio. “We were able to give him a pretty good area as you can see on the map where all the young 5-to-9-year-olds.”

So where are the toys stored?

“I wish I could tell the folks and the kids where Santa is going to locate, but unfortunately I signed a non-disclosure agreement with Santa, so I really can’t disclose the final location as to where Santa might be storing the gifts for the good boys and girls in the region,” said Pat Ford, executive director, BDC.

BHJ also provided the North Pole with the number of families who fall below the poverty line.

According to reports from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 25 percent of Jefferson County families with children fall under the federal poverty level.

Eighteen percent in Brooke County and 23 percent of families in Hancock County meet those criteria.

After checking that list twice, BHJ realized Santa could use some local assistance.

The commission and the BDC are partnering with the Salvation Army, and they’re asking for your help in donating to their angel trees.

Would-be Santa’s Helpers can call the W.Va. Salvation Army office at 304-748-4310 for the locations of Angel Trees. In Ohio, the number for the Salvation Army is 740-282-5121. Gifts need to be delivered to the Weirton Salvation Army by Dec. 11 and to the Steubenville Salvation Army by Dec. 13.