The American Legion Post 615 was serving more than smiles thanks to its Auxiliary, as well as a certain, jolly special guest.
Children and families on hand Sunday, Dec. 10, for the second annual Breakfast with Santa had an early chance to get into the spirit of the holiday season.
The event was meant to bring families closer and create memories to last a lifetime, good deeds that can be taken for granted.
“It’s a special treat for all the people,” said Peggy Williams, president of the American Legion Post 615’s Auxiliary. “That’s what we want to encourage.
“We just want to bring everyone closer together. With people having to work sometimes a second job, it’s hard for people to get together. A lot of times during the holidays, people don’t have the funds because they’ve got their regular obligations, plus they have their Christmas obligations. So, we just wanted to have something, here, where they could all come together, have a nice meal, be together as a family, and enjoy the spirit of the holidays at a reasonable price, something they can afford.”
Breakfast with Santa was open to both members and nonmembers of the American Legion Post 615 and the Auxiliary.
Pat Herman, of Mokena, was enjoying the company of her husband, Tom, and their 3-year-old and 1-year-old grandchildren, Ryan and Madelyn, respectively.
“It’s nice,” she said. “The food is good. Music is nice.”
A number of Auxiliary members were on hand to make Breakfast with Santa possible this year. The Sons of Legion did all the cooking for the event, starting food prep at 6 that morning.
The menu included biscuits and gravy, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, sausage, bacon, orange juice, hot cocoa, tea, milk and coffee.
Worth resident Sheri Hyzy was enjoying breakfast with her 22-year-old daughter, Courteney Hyzy, and her 7-month-old and 7-year-old granddaughters, Teigen Lavery and Cecilia Boyas.
“Anytime you can see Santa it’s a good time to kickoff the holidays,” Sheri said.
This year was Sheri’s first time dropping in for Breakfast with Santa.
Sheri said her son lives in the area, so that made choosing to come out for the event an easy decision.
“When everybody has busy lives, we coordinate things,” she said. “We may do a few other things [to get into the spirit of the season.] We’ll see.”
Sheri said she knows that one of her granddaughters, Cecilia, has been especially looking forward to ringing in the spirit of the season.
Cecilia has one hope in mind as the holidays inch closer: to be good, so that Santa can keep his promise to get her Shopkins.