The children of Marion are lucky to have a police chief with friends in high places, and it doesn’t get any higher up on the globe than the North Pole.
Marion Police Chief John Garcia just so happens to know Santa Claus – or, at least, knows someone who knows someone who knows Santa Claus and was able to arrange for yet another visit on Sunday, December 2, for the Marion Police Brotherhood’s annual “Pizza with Santa” at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center.
Hundreds of kiddies and their families turned out for that all-important encounter with Saint Nick and the chance to sit on his knee, tell him all about that special gift they hope to receive this year, a quick iPhone photo, a candy cane, and a free slice of pizza.
This year Mrs. Claus joined her dear Santa in the fun at the request of Town Hall’s own Michele Bissonnette – what luck that Marion kids have not one, but two people with Christmas connections!
Guests were encouraged to bring a new unwrapped toy for the toy drive, which will be donated to the Justice Resource Institute and also to local families in need.
By Jean Perry