SANTA CAME TO TOWN!

On a beautiful, sunny afternoon Santa Claus arrived to lend an ear to local kid’s Christmas wishes. It was Saturday, December 16 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #248 on Bluffton Road had each of their tables decorated with reindeer names. A familiar Christmas tune, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, played on the jukebox in the corner of the large room filled with children, parents, grandparents, family and friends as the much anticipated big guy came through the door for the 12th Annual Children’s Christmas Party.

Pizza was served as the children colored on pages from a coloring book. They signed up for door prizes and made a guess-timate on how many candies were in the candy jar. Avalon Kahn, 9 and Kiera Kahn, 11 decorated cookies as they waited their turn to meet Santa before he heads back to the North Pole.

After greeting everyone, Santa sat down near the lighted Christmas tree and an assortment of decorations. A line of kids and parents waited to take their turn to talk to the jolly man in the red suit, and make their request for what they’d like to see under the tree come Christmas morning.

“What’s your name?” Santa inquired.

Asking another question to nearly everyone who sat on his lap, “Do you eat all of your vegetables?”

Keeping the conversation going, of course, the familiar question was asked, “What do you want for Christmas?” The list of requests included an X-Box, clothes, race cars and even a gumball machine.

“Be good!” he reminded them as they jumped down. “Listen to mommy and daddy.”

“This one makes me merry!” Santa exclaimed, as he held sleeping baby Ava Savage-born just two weeks ago.

All the kids had the opportunity to pose with Santa as a polaroid photo was taken-smiling or crying-then given to the parent of the child. Santa’s elves guided the little ones to a box filled with huge red stockings full of oranges, candy, goldfish crackers and suckers for the older children, and flavored cereal, rice snacks and chewy bites for the younger ones.

Julia Sennebogen, the Women’s Auxiliary President estimated that they entertained over 100 kids. “We are doing our best to help spread holiday cheer,” Julia said. “It’s a real sense of community. We can’t thank our volunteers, and businesses, enough for donating to our special Christmas.”

All around Waynedale, family and friends are joining together to celebrate and catch a little bit of the holiday spirit. May your Christmas joy last all year long.