Visiting with Santa Claus at the Breakfast with Santa, sponsored by the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club, on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Wyoming Area Secondary Center cafeteria are, left to right: Paisley Burke, 5, Makenzie Hanghorne, 7, and Bailey Vincent, 3.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
On the left, Kiwanis Sandy Shaffer and David Stoshick serve breakfast to Marissa Delia, 14, right, and Gianna Welby, 13, far right, during the Breakfast with Santa sponsored by the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Two-year-old Hailey Micklo eats her breakfast dressed in holiday wear before she gets to meet Santa Claus at Breakfast with Santa.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Ben Houston, 9, gets busy writing his Christmas wish list to Santa during the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club’s Breakfast with Santa at the Wyoming Area Secondary Center’s cafeteria on Dec. 5.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
The Acernese family, from Harding, have been attending the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club Breakfast with Santa over the years, taking all five of their children. Starting top, left, clockwise, Tony Acernese, Lilyann, 3, Stefanie Acernese, baby Brysen, 1, Ayden, 10, Grayson, 3, and Colby, 7. Absent: Anthony, 16.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
EXETER – Due to the pandemic of 2020, it’s been two long years before the Wyoming Area Kiwanis Club (WAKC) has been able to put on the annual Breakfast with Santa holiday event, but the return of the extravaganza has one of the largest in the 27-year history.
Tiffany Callaio, WAKC president, said 462 people attended the 2021 Breakfast with Santa at Wyoming Area Secondary Center cafeteria on Sunday, Dec. 5.
“Our WA Kiwanis Club was thrilled with the turnout for our 27th annual Breakfast with Santa,” Callaio said. “We had so many compliments on how great of the event if was from the food to the crafts and of course seeing Santa.”
Each year, attendees are treated to a pancake breakfast with sausage and eggs along with a beverage. Children, in addition to sitting with Santa Claus, get to color, do crafts, and find hidden Elves.
This year, as in every year, the WAKC was aided by Kiwanis junior organization, the Builders Club from both Wyoming Area and Wyoming Area Catholic.
“It was great seeing all the kids have a fantastic time visiting with Santa and creating the crafts that the Wyoming Area and Wyoming Area Catholic Builders Clubs did with them.” Callaio said. “The kids from both clubs did an outstanding job of helping with the crafts and clearing, bussing, and sanitizing the tables.”
Stefanie Acernese and her husband Tony from Harding, Pa. have been attending the Breakfast with Santa event ever since her 16-year old son Anthony was a child.
“We love it, it’s one of our favorite events the Kiwanis does,” Stefanie Acernese said. “Kiwanis does a lot of stuff but this is family friendly and we enjoy it. A lot of places you go to see Santa, you either are waiting in line or spending a lot of money, it’s just not the same feel, it’s very relaxed. Being able to help the local community and it being at the school; everything about it, they do a wonderful job and the kids love it and look forward to it.”
This year, ten-year old Ayden Acernese, who has a custom-made bookmark business, Bookmark Balooza by Ayden, handmade 120 bookmarks that were purchased by a generous donor and given out to the children attending Breakfast with Santa.
Ayden, who was attending the breakfast, was happy to attend for the food and crafts. He said he was equally as thrilled to see his bookmarks being given away.
“Yeah, it was really fun,” said Ayden, on being at this year’s breakfast. “My favorite part was the food and I did most of the crafts except for the face painting.”
Ayden said he was proud to see his bookmarks being given away this year.
“In my 10-years with WAKC, I’ve never seen such a great attendance and our club was thrilled with the turnout,” Callaio said. “We can’t wait to see what next year’s Breakfast with Santa could bring and we are happy to be able to provide this event to the area families each year.”
