On Saturday morning at 8 a.m., before the holiday parade, families joined Santa and the Mexico Civic Club in St. Brendan Gymnasium. 

Holiday tunes by John Knipfel, who was dressed in his reindeer best, echoed through the gymnasium while the Civic Club was hard at work weaving through tables and around children at play, passing out tasty confections

Above the roar of conversation was the occasional gleeful scream when a lucky kid’s name was called on down to select a special present from the table of door prizes overflowing with goodies. There was something for everyone there, from slime to stickers.

Breakfast with Santa has been a holiday season tradition for more than thirty years. It is one of the Mexico Civic Club's two main fundraising events. The club’s other major annual event is Mexico’s Safety Town.

“We’re just a group of ladies who get together to raise money,” says Jennifer Geeson. 

Tickets were $5 per person and that included breakfast, games run by Miss Brick City Amanda Kelley and Miss Audrain Halie Hebron, and free photos with Santa Claus. 

“Everything we raise here goes right back to the community,” says Geeson.

The Civic Club donates as often as they can to help kids in our community have access to education, books, and extracurriculars.