YMCA eats breakfast with Santa

The atmosphere was filled with festive spirit and holiday cheer at the Monroe County YMCA Saturday.

About 200 people, including parents and children, attended the third annual Breakfast with Santa event, the YMCA’s largest to date.

With the help of several volunteers, this year’s event was successful in serving a pancake breakfast to several families in Monroe County.

Youth director Angela Dilts said she originally came up with the idea after participating in a similar event in Indianapolis.

The city puts on an annual Breakfast With Witches event every Halloween at the Children’s Museum, which Dilts thought would make a great addition to the Monroe County YMCA during the winter holiday times by adapting the event to feature Santa Claus instead.

“It’s a fun thing to do for the families,” Dilts said. “Especially for kids, and the other activities we offer for them.”

Families who were both members and non-members were treated to a freshly prepared pancake breakfast, arts and crafts for children and the opportunity to take a photo on the lap of Santa Claus. Scholarship money the YMCA collects throughout the year for families and children was used to help put on the event by paying for the costs associated with it.

Rod Yandt, building supervisor for the YMCA, said the satisfaction he received from volunteering at this year’s event is the reason why the YMCA organizes these types of gatherings.

“Just seeing the smiles on all of the kids’ faces is my favorite part,” Yandt said. “Some years kids get frightened by Santa, but everyone was real excited to see him this year.”

— Brett Frieman