A volunteer packs gifts and food into a 26-foot trailer ahead of Friday's What Would Santa Do? Foundation Drive-thru event.
An unlikely connection between the Bahamas and Renfrew will keep spirits bright on Friday night.
The What Would Santa Do? Foundation’s drive-thru event, providing a festive dinner and gifts for families in need, will pack the myFM Centre parking lot between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15th.
Foundation Co-Chair Katie Skerkowski and several volunteers were busy on Thursday afternoon, packing a 26-foot trailer full of food and gifts for what is expected to be their biggest turnout ever at over 1,200 people, including some who have historically come to town from as far as Barry’s Bay and Ottawa.
What Would Santa Do? got it’s start in Nassau, Bahamas, and Tampa, Florida, under Katie’s uncle, Bernie, who brought the idea back home to Renfrew during the pandemic.
The day has grown significantly over the past four years, and Skerkowski is proud of how efficient volunteers have gotten at handing out hundreds of frozen turkeys, bags of food, and gifts while managing the chilly Ottawa Valley nights.
She hopes what happens this Friday night will inspire other communities to join in.
Skerkowski says that registration has already closed for people looking to receive food and gifts, but everyone’s welcome to enjoy the night’s lights, music, goodies, and even a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The Town of Renfrew is warning traffic in the area to expect delays on and around Ma-te-Way Drive on Friday evening as cars make their way to take part in the Drive-Thru event.
(written by Kasey Egan)
