CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- A 17-year tradition continues for the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Illinois as more than 100 kids came out for Breakfast With Santa.
Staff and volunteers adopted a drive-thru plan for Saturday morning's event to keep with COVID-19 guidelines,
Tina Carpenter, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Southern Illinois, say it was important continue on and show the kids they care.
"We have their backs, we have them in our hearts, and we want to make sure that they continue to have some type of a normalized Christmas season and know that we're going to do whatever it takes," explains Carpenter. "We made the best of a tough situation, and still spread some holiday cheer."
The breakfast is a community-wide effort with Southern Illinois University Physician Residents providing gifts.
While Southern Illinois Collaborative Kitchen, Rotary Club and Newman Center "Elves" teamed up to provide the breakfast-to-go.
Next year, Carpenter hopes the event can return inside so staff and members can spend quality time together for the holidays.
