Dozens of families join Santa for breakfast
By Betsy Avelar Staff Writer
Gilroy – Santa invited little boys and girls for breakfast Saturday to celebrate the annual Breakfast with Santa at the Gilroy Senior Center.
The expressions on the kids’ faces were mostly those of surprise that morning when Santa sauntered into the room with his sled in tow while breakfast was served.
Santa was busy greeting every child in his path with a hug and a “I missed you.” His boisterous voice brought warmth to the room where snowflakes hung from the ceiling and lighted Christmas trees decorated the area. Christmas music soothed the atmosphere and some kids showed Santa their wish lists, as he went around and visited the kids who sat at the tables.
More than 160 people ate pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice, orange slices and coffee and cookies that morning. At $11 per person, the event raised $1,800 to pay for the breakfast and other expenses. It was hosted by the City of Gilroy and according to Judy Janich, event coordinator and Community Recreation Supervisor, there seems to be more adults attending than children.
“There’s more adults coming to these events than kids, and I think it’s because they like to see the children’s facial expressions,” said Janich.
Faithful participants like Mary Quintanar, 41, brought all her children to the event in the past, but this year, she brought only her 5-year old son Marcus.
“I always brought my older daughters,” said the Gilroy resident. She referred to the event as tradition, and remembered when photos were still taken with Polaroid cameras not digital ones.
Quintanar said she kept the existence of the man in red going as long as she could with her children, who began questioning the tradition when they were in the sixth grade.
“When they questioned it finally, I was so emotional,” she said. “It’s such a good family thing in believing; the good feelings that it brings.”
Her son Marcus looked at his wish list and was restless in his seat because he had yet to give it to Santa.
“I’ve been a good boy at school and … I help my mom and my grandmother,” Marcus said. His list consisted of a Star Wars game for his PlayStation, but he wants to upgrade to a PlayStation 3 this Christmas and wants an X-Box too.
This is not the first time that Marcus saw Santa Clause this year.
“In big cities like New York we saw Santa over there, but it just doesn’t feel the same,” Quintanar said. “{It’s so fast paced we can’t take our time and not feel rushed.”
“We’re fortunate that in our community we can still do this. I love that it still happens,” she added.
