North Charleroi to host Santa on Christmas Eve

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Before heading down Mon Valley chimneys, Santa will make a special trip through North Charleroi on Christmas Eve.

Lock No. 4 Volunteer Fire Company organizes the event each year using funds from a breakfast with Santa fundraiser.
While breakfast had to be canceled this year because of the pandemic, Chief Fred Schwalb wanted to make sure St. Nick was still able to pass out toys to children in the borough.

Council members and other officials made gift baskets to raffle, and when residents learned the department was in need, stepped up in big ways to help. 

“Even though we were not able to have our breakfast with Santa this year, we wanted to do everything we could to make sure we could still bring him around on the truck to pass out toys,” Schwalb said. “We didn’t know if we could make it happen, but the whole town came together and we were able to pull it off.”

Schwalb said each basket brought in about $150, and other residents, businesses and organizations contributed monetary donations or boxes of toys to help.

“We had tremendous help,” he said. “One family donated $240, another family donated $100, someone else did $150, numerous boxes of toys. It was really awesome to see that kind of support.” 

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