An AP/AOL poll reveals that 86% of us believed in Santa as children and the average age for losing that belief is 8 years old. Still, Santa plays an important role in Christmas celebrations for about 51% of us.

But Santa has had some bad press lately.

David Allen Rodgers was arrested after the intoxicated 42 year old took off at the wheel of a holiday parade float in Anderson, S.C. Rodgers sped down Main street and led police on a 3 mile chase with 19 people aboard the float.

Also in SC, a Santa Claus on a motorcycle with a sidecar stopped at a convenience store and grabbed an 8-year-old girl, kidnapped her and took off. The girl’s father saw John Michael Barton speeding off with his daughter and gave chase. After a chase reaching speeds of 80 mph, Barton finally pulled over and released the girl.

Add to that the pranks, thefts and vandalisms that seem more a part of Halloween than Christmas - all over, teens steal baby Jesus dolls from nativity scenes and attack inflatable Santas and snowmen - it seems the spirit of Christmas is not what it used to be.

If you’re living on a fixed income, things like high heating fuel bills can be a frightening prospect. However, there are fuel assistance programs available and an easy way to find them in your area.

Not all assistance programs are created equal but many offer protection against shut-off if you can’t pay your heating bill in the colder winter months. There may even be an emergency assistance program that will deliver fuel to low-income residents.

To find out what programs are in place in your state, visit US Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.