Area children can begin the holidays with Breakfast with Santa at Hamilton Place on Saturday, Nov. 17, from 8:30-10 a.m. in the Food Court at the mall. Tickets are $5 and include a breakfast of chicken-minis, fruit, milk or juice plus fun games and activities, a visit with Chick-fil-A cows, a performance by Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block and most importantly a special visit from Santa Claus.
Tickets can be purchased at Chick-fil-A in the mall, the mall’s Tourist Information & Guest Services and through Chattanooga's Kids on the Block by calling 423 757-5259. Tickets are for children only, adults will need to purchase meals separately. All proceeds from Breakfast with Santa will benefit Chattanooga's Kids on the Block.
“We are excited to be a part of the annual holiday tradition, meeting the children and of course Santa Clause,” said Kelly Williams, executive director of Chattanooga's Kids on the Block. “It is always a special event when we get to perform for children in our community, especially on special occasions. We appreciate the mall supporting the children in our community through our educational programs and providing this event to benefit the work we provide in our area.”
In addition to Breakfast with Santa on Nov. 17, beginning Friday, Dec. 7, Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block will hold its 29th annual Holiday Gift Wrap fundraising event. Two gift wrapping stations will be located in the mall and opened during the mall’s holiday hours. The upstairs booth will be located across from the Mall’s Tourist Information Center (Customer Service) and the downstairs booth will be located in front of JC Penney Store.
A variety of papers, boxes and ribbon will be available to choose from to have your gifts wrapped supporting Kids on the Block. Over 400 volunteers will wrap gifts during this fundraising event. If you or your business would like to volunteer please contact Earlynn Schubert – earlynn@kidsontheblock.net or call 423 757-5259.
For the past 33 years, Chattanooga's Kids on the Block has been providing educational puppetry programs to schools and communities in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Chattanooga's Kids on the Block features life size puppets designed to teach children and adults about social concerns and differences in a non-threatening manner.
Programs are free of charge to schools in the 14 counties served, thanks to funding from the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, Civitan Club of Chattanooga, Kiwanis Club of Chattanooga, Sertoma Club of Chattanooga, BASF, Lyndhurst Foundation, Tennessee Arts Commission, individual donations, and fundraisers such as this.
Organizers said, "Please make it a point to have your gifts wrapped at one of the locations. If you need more information or to schedule a business gift drop off of multiple items to be wrapped, please contact Kelly Lowry, kellyl@kidsontheblock.net or call 423 757-5259."