Sweet Springs celebrates the holidays with 'Santa Saturday'

From left to right, Alexia Hays, 11, Kennedy March, 11, Brianne Looney, 10, and Stormy Krona, 15, hold signs to attract passing cars to Girl Scout Junior Troop 274's "Toys for Tots" toy drive Saturday, Dec. 6, as part of Sweet Springs "Santa Saturday." (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Order this photo]

Sweet Springs saw a lot of Christmastime activities during "Santa Saturday," Dec. 6, part of the town's "Winter Weekend."

Children and their parents were able to have "Breakfast with Santa" for the tenth consecutive year at the Lions Club thanks to the Sweet Springs Optimist Club, where they could eat pancakes and sausage and drink either milk or orange juice before the children sat on Santa's lap.

Some children stand at the Parents as Teachers table in the Sweet Springs Elementary School gym Saturday, Dec. 6, watching another make a reindeer ornament from a candy cane. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Dee Friel, secretary-treasurer of the Optimist Club, said the club views "Breakfast with Santa" as a "community service, so parents don't have to take their kids to the city" to see Santa. This year, nearly 125 area children got a chance to tell this Santa their Christmas wishes.

Sitting on Santa's lap was free, as was taking a photo with one's own camera, but the Optimist Club had a photographer and offered photo packages ranging from $4 to $12. The cost for the all-you-can-eat breakfast was $3.50 for attendees aged 13 and above, $2.50 for those age 3 through 12 and free for anyone younger than 2 years of age. Funds raised go toward youth projects, such as the "Halloween Spectacular," scholarships, a "bike rodeo" and the donation of dictionaries to area schools, said Friel.

A cookie festival was held at the Lutheran Church. The cookies, of which there were more than 6,000, sold out in about an hour at a price of $7 for a box of about four dozen cookies.

One young girl browses available items at "Santa's Mini-Mall," held in the Sweet Springs Food Pantry. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Children and their parents were offered free rides around town in the Fire Department's fire truck.

At the library, children could make a number of crafts for free, and also received candy canes and door prizes, including a Christmas card containing an ornament. It was the third year the "Kids Christmas Crafts" event was sponsored by Friends of the Sweet Springs Library, said President Carol Zumbehl.

"Santa's Mini-Mall," held at the Food Pantry, gave children as old as 18 an opportunity to purchase gifts for their family members.

Several children and their parents gather around a crafts table in the Sweet Springs library. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

About three dozen items were purchased and donated to the Mini-Mall by each member of the Eta Delta and Xi Eta sororities, said Marilyn Fangman, president of Eta Delta sorority. Sorority members were present, ready to wrap the children's gifts for them. All gifts were sold for $5 or less.

A "Toys for Tots" toy drive was held outside The Cheese Store, sponsored by Girl Scout Junior Troop 274.

Donations of toys or money received by the troop went to Lisa Hall for distribution to those in need, said Troop Leader Laurie Eckhoff.

Several area residents display their wares at the Vendor/Craft Show in the Sweet Springs Elementary School gym. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Parents as Teachers, in the elementary school gym, gave children the opportunity to color pictures and make candy canes into reindeer while they were offered educational material covering the season's top toys, recalled toys, poisonous Christmas plants and good toys for 2-year-olds.

"We just try to fit into an already-existing community event, and we thought the Santa (Saturday) would be a good opportunity," said Parents as Teachers member Carol McDonald.

At the same time, in the same place, local residents had a variety of items for sale, including candles, children's books, poinsettias, makeup, window stickers, baked goods and a number of other seasonal and non-seasonal crafts at the Vendor/Craft Show, sponsored by the Sweet Springs Chamber of Commerce.

Midway through the craft show, the elementary gym became host for a free-will donation chili dinner, sponsored by the food pantry. All donations went to support the food pantry.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net