Santa is coming to town!
St. Charles Parish will host its Toy and Gift Event on Saturday, Dec. 14 at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Residents do not need to pre-register for the event, but they must show proof of residency at the door, according to Francesca Blanchard, a spokesperson for the parish. The event is open to all parish children 14 years old and younger.
Blanchard said the parish expects about 1,500 children to visit Santa’s Workshop, where they will roam the aisles of toys and select the items they want with the help of Santa’s helpers. Children can also send letters to Santa.
“Parents can sit back and watch the joy on their kids’ faces as they pick gifts from what’s essentially a free toy store,” Blanchard said. “It’s truly a special event we look forward to hosting each year.”
Santa, the Grinch, Batman, and princesses will also greet the children at the event, Blanchard said.
Blanchard said the event is coordinated by the parish’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Valero prepares food and refreshments for families attending the event. Times-Picayune Doll and Toy Fund, Toys for Tots, Bunge and the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish supply the toys.
United Way of St. Charles gives the Toy and Gift Event a yearly grant to buy additional items needed, such as presents for older children, cookies, drinks, coloring books and crayons, Blanchard said.
The St. Charles Parish and Gift Event dates to the 1970s, originally beginning with a simple list supplied from local area churches of children in need. With the help of local volunteers, the event eventually grew in scope and size.
