Volunteers at the annual Breakfast with Santa event held at the Centralia Union Depot on Saturday morning greet people before serving them a free breakfast.
Scrambled eggs were part of the free meal offered at the annual Breakfast with Santa event held at the Centralia Union Depot on Saturday morning.
Callen Best, 5, sits on Santa’s lap for the first time at the annual Breakfast with Santa event held at the Centralia Union Depot on Saturday morning.
Volunteers serve a free breakfast at the annual Breakfast with Santa event held at the Centralia Union Depot on Saturday morning.
The smell of scrambled eggs and pancakes wafted through the air in front of the Centralia Train Depot on Saturday morning as volunteers dished up free breakfasts.
The annual Breakfast with Santa event provided free meals and accepted donations for Toys for Tots, a program with the mission of collecting new toys that are later distributed to children in the community for Christmas.
“We don’t charge anybody; we just take donations and people have been very generous this year,” Lee Coumbs said at the event.
The Twin Cities and High Noon Sertoma Clubs put on the event. Throughout the year, the clubs focus on speech and hearing charities, but around the holidays, they shift focus to Toys for Tots, Al Soderquist, club president of Twin Cities Sertoma Club, said.
While collecting donations for a good cause, the clubs also feed many people who may not otherwise have a warm meal, said Rick Borovec, with Twin Cities Sertoma Club.
“Anytime you are helping kids it’s good, but we probably do this as much for the people who just need food,” he said. “The first two hours in the morning are just basically street people and it’s good. We enjoy that, too.”
Those who participated in the meal grabbed food outside of the train depot and were able to eat inside where tables were set up. Santa Claus was on hand for photo opportunities for the children at the event.
Callen Best, 5, of Chehalis, took the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap for the first time, reciting a list of presents he would like to receive this year.
In all, Coumbs said, the breakfast typically feeds approximately 200 people.
The Breakfast with Santa event in Centralia is one of two that are held on an annual basis locally. Proceeds from the next breakfast will benefit Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma.
It will take place 8-11 a.m. Saturday at the Chehalis United Methodist Church, located at 16 S. Market Blvd. It is sponsored by the Sacajawea Guild to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and High Noon Sertoma Club.
Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, applesauce, fruit juice, coffee and hot chocolate will be served.
Suggested donations are $7 for an adult, and $4 for children between the ages of 4 and 12.
