articles

Santa’s Coming to St. Lucie Mets Clover Park, 12/3

FREE all-you-can-eat breakfast and loads of holiday activities for children

November 17, 2022

The New Horizons 6th Annual Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 8:00 AM to noon at St. Lucie Mets Clover Park, 31 Piazza Drive in Port St. Lucie.  Area children up to age 17 will receive a complimentary, all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with all the fixings, as well as an opportunity for photos with Santa Claus at this family-friendly, event.  Adult admission is $5, or bring an unwrapped toy or gift card.

Sponsored by Stewart Materials, the St. Lucie Mets, Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County, Treasure Coast Photography Center, Terilco Events & Décor, Keller William Jupiter, and Mary Kay – Jerry Koedyker, this event is a holiday extravaganza certain to get attendees in the spirit of the season.  Breakfast with Santa offers yummy food, keepsake photos with Jolly Ol’ St. Nick, cookie decorating, Christmas crafts, face painting, and dance party contests with prizes.

“This event is so much fun for kids of all ages, from all backgrounds – creating memories they will carry with them throughout their lives as a cherished holiday tradition,” explained William Wims, CEO of New Horizons, a local nonprofit mental health and substance use recovery provider.


Brothers share their wish lists with Santa at the 2021 New Horizons Breakfast  with Santa event at Clover Park.  ~ Photo by Deb Pizzimenti


“Wholesome activities in a safe, family-friendly environment have a positive impact on the children in our community,” he said.

The all-you-can-eat menu includes scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice and hot chocolate.  The Treasure Coast Photography Center will for the 6th year again be taking professional, quality photos of attendees with Santa that they can take home, and the Children’s Services Council will give away free grade-level books as well.

Perennial volunteer Kevin Lake, a most amazing Santa, is again coming from Tampa representing Bella’s Wings, a nonprofit he created in memory of a young girl who lost her life to cancer.  

All of the toys and gift cards collected at the event will be given to children and teens from low-income and foster families associated with New Horizons.

“Many of these children would have nothing to open on Christmas morning if not for our efforts,” said Wims.

If your organization, club or church would like to host a toy drive or adopt a family for the 2023 holiday season, there are several options available.  Additional funds raised at Breakfast with Santa help purchase supplies and provide facility beautification that improve engagement and enhance the therapeutic experience.

Each year, New Horizons serves on average 15,000 adults and children, ages 4 and up, across St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. The agency also brings drug/alcohol prevention and anti-bullying programs to 23,000 students in area schools, grades K-12.

As predicted, the ramifications of a global pandemic have been huge for mental health. Since the onset of covid, almost 70% 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 or services at New Horizons, please visit www.nhtcinc.org or call 772-672-8333.