Organizers are hard at work preparing for the Avon Grove Music Boosters Santa Breakfast, which has grown into something of a holiday tradition for local families. The 23rd annual event takes place in the Avon Grove High School cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12.

“It's a great way to get you in the mood for the holidays and for giving back to the community,” explained Sandra Lehr, the co-chair of the 2015 Avon Grove Music Boosters Santa Breakfast. The event is a collaboration between the Avon Grove Music Boosters and students in the high school's music program.

“We have more than 50 students and a lot of parents involved,” Lehr said, explaining that the day of the breakfast is filled with activity as the Boosters and the students serve food to hundreds of people. The star of the Santa Breakfast is Santa himself, of course. He is present throughout the event so that children can share their Christmas wishes with him. Pictures with Santa are just $5 each, and Santa will also hand out a treat bag and reindeer food to children.

The high school's orchestra, band, and choir also play and sing Christmas songs.

Lehr said that the breakfast includes adult meals of three pancakes, two sausage links, a hot and cold beverage and children's meals of two pancakes, one sausage link, one hot and cold beverage, and a treat bag. The donation is $5 for a breakfast.

It takes months of planning and work for the organizers, but the result is well worth it, according to Lehr. She noted that this year, in her new role as a co-chair, she started to work on the planning in August.

One of the most important tasks for event organizers and the students is reaching out to the local businesses for food donations.

“We have fantastic local donors,” Lehr said. “We don't have a lot of businesses in the area, but a lot of them that we do have really come through for events like this. We receive a lot of donations.”

Working with the kids in the music department to pull off the event is a joy. On the day of the event, students set up, serve, and clean up after the breakfast is finished.

“It's such a great group of kids—the kids in the music department,” Lehr explained. “It's a good learning experience for them.”

All the proceeds from the event are used for donations to needy families in the community. At last year's event, more than 400 people turned out for the breakfast, and $2,300 was raised.

“It really is a great local event,” Lehr said. “ I love to see the kids giving back like this. It helps families in our community.”