The 5th annual New Horizons Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St. Lucie Mets Clover Park, 31 Piazza Drive.
The event is free for youth under the age of 18. Adult admission is $5, or bring an unwrapped gift or gift card to the toy drive.
Hosted by Stewart Materials, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation, Aramark and the Treasure Coast Photography Center, this delightful holiday celebration features an all-you-can-eat breakfast, photos with Santa, games, prizes, cookie decorating, card making, face painting, and more.
The goal of Breakfast with Santa is to create wholesome memories that will last a lifetime.
“Some of these kids have never participated in holiday activities because of absent parents, single family households where one parent is working several jobs, or negligent parents,” explained William Wims, CEO of New Horizons, a local nonprofit mental health and addiction recovery provider.
“Good fun in a safe family-friendly environment has a positive impact on the children in our community,” he said.
This year’s menu features scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice and hot chocolate. There is also discussion about a bounce house and outdoor holiday movie.
The photography club has been involved with this event since its inception in 2016, providing attendees with printed photos to include with their handmade cards or as souvenirs from this time in their life.
Volunteer Kevin Lake, aka Santa, will come from Tampa for the fifth season, after a one-year hiatus of the event due to covid. But not even that Grinch could stop him from bringing a truckload of toys that he collected through his nonprofit Bella’s Wings, in memory of a young girl who lost her life to cancer.
The donated toys and gift cards will be given to children and teens from low-income and foster families associated with New Horizons.
“These children would have nothing to open on Christmas morning if not for our efforts,” said Wims.
New Horizons is also partnering with LeGit Cuts Barber Shop’s Downtown Toy Drive, which has adopted five families associated with the agency, and the Causeway Cove Christmas Toy Drive on December 11th. Unwrapped gifts will be selected by case managers who work closely with families in getting them the help they need to thrive.
There are also opportunities for the adoption of more families facing immense challenges this year.
Additional funds raised at Breakfast with Santa help purchase supplies for children’s programs at New Horizons that improve engagement and enhance the therapeutic experience.
Each year, New Horizons serves about 15,000 adults and children, ages 5 and up, across St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. The agency also brings drug/alcohol prevention and anti-bullying programs to 22,000 students in area schools, grades K-12.
Since the onset of covid, 65% of New Horizons clients have no source of income or any insurance, yet no one is turned away due to lack of financial resources.
Established in 1958, New Horizons has nine outpatient offices conveniently located across the region, as well as inpatient programs at the main campus on Midway Road in Fort Pierce. The agency also has a 24-hour helpline and mobile response team that delivers mental health care directly to an individual in need, day or night at no cost.
For more information about Breakfast with Santa, Toy Drive drop off locations, or services at New Horizons, please visit www.nhtcinc.org or call 772-672-8333.
