Santa Claus made an early visit to Limestone on Saturday, Dec. 9, for the annual Lunch With Santa at the town’s United Methodist Church on Main Street. Members of the Xi Alpha Theta Sorority’s Limestone chapter held the event 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as a fundraiser for various yearlong community projects, including putting together a Thanksgiving basket for a chosen family in need and giving financial stipends to high school graduates.
About 30 children attended this year’s Lunch With Santa. Carol Castle, a member of the church who helped organize the event, said that both the lunch and items sold in the Children’s Gift Shop raised a total of $400 for the sorority. The gift shop was set up in the basement of the church, where the lunch and visits with Santa also happened. The shop, however, was open 3-6 p.m. Friday and again from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Items that were sold included stuffed animals, children’s games and books, Christmas decorations and picture frames, all for $1 or less.
Limestone resident Kim Simon brought her grandchildren, 7-year-old Kaytlin Crouse and 4-year-old Henry Crouse, to meet Santa and buy Christmas gifts for their parents. Kaytlin and Henry had their picture taken with Santa soon after arriving and revealed what they want most for Christmas this year.
“Experiment stuff for science,” said aspiring scientist Kaytlin.
“I want a monster truck,” said Henry.
As with all the children, Santa gave Kaytlin and Henry gift bags that included items such as coloring books, crayons and stickers.
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- Six-year-old Sam Cuthbertson shows off a candle he found in the Children’s Gift Shop during the Lunch With Santa fundraiser, held Saturday in the basement of Limestone’s United Methodist Church. Sam and his sister Abby, 9, enjoyed a visit with Santa Claus and searched around the gift shop excitedly for toys and games. (Melissa Lizotte)
“They get to meet Santa, have lunch and shop for their parents and enjoy themselves while they’re here,” Simon said, about why she brought her grandchildren to the day’s festivities. After meeting Santa the children enjoyed a meal of hot dogs, chips and sweets served by Xi Alpha Theta Sorority members.
Jessica Cuthbertson, also a resident of Limestone, brought her children Abby, 9, and Sam, 6, to Lunch With Santa for the first time this year. She smiled while watching them search through the toys in the gift shop.
“I love that the children got to visit with Santa somewhere that’s more personal than a busy mall,” Cuthbertson said. “It’s nice to know that the community can come together and put on events like this for the children in Limestone.”
Joyce Day, president for the Limestone Chapter of Xi Alpha Theta, thanked the United Methodist Church for providing the space and support for the Lunch With Santa fundraiser. The sorority has held the event for 25 years and is glad to provide a fun holiday outing for children living in Limestone.
“An event like this gives the children a place to see Santa and purchase gifts without having to travel outside of town,” Day said. “We plan to keep having Lunch With Santa every year as long as we have people interested in coming.”
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- The Children’s Gift Shop in Limestone’s United Methodist Church is filled with toys, crafts and games during the Xi Alpha Theta Sorority’s annual Lunch With Santa fundraiser on Saturday. The sorority raised $400 from both the lunch and items sold in the gift shop to raise money for the group’s community service projects. (Melissa Lizotte)
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- Christmas decorations were some of the many items on sale at the Children’s Gift Shop during the Xi Alpha Theta Sorority’s annual Lunch With Santa on Dec. 9 at the Limestone United Methodist Church. The sorority raised $400 through the gift shop and lunch to fund various service projects throughout the year. (Melissa Lizotte)
