Volunteers wrap up the 2023 What Would Santa Do? Drive-Thru event on December 15th, 2023
One of the biggest acts of holiday giving in the Ottawa Valley will be back for another year.
Organizer Katie Skerkowski says her family’s annual What Would Santa Do? Foundation Drive Thru will welcome community members to pass through their festive setup inside the myFM Centre parking lot in Renfrew for a full spread of holiday cheer on December 22nd.
The event is an unlikely connection between the Ottawa Valley and Tampa, Florida, where Katie’s uncle Bernie first developed the idea before bringing it north to Renfrew during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s an idea that has grown bigger each year since its inception, drawing interest straight across Renfrew County and beyond.
Skerkowski says the goal this year is to be bigger than ever by handing out 500 or more holiday baskets to the community, adding that online registration is happening until December 18th. Just let them know how many people are in your family, as well as how many kids and how old they are so they get an age-appropriate gift.
She also says you don’t need to be struggling over the holidays to take part.
If you would prefer to give rather than get, Skerkowski says you can always drop off holiday-appropriate, non-perishable food and toys at the event’s sponsor, the Opeongo Bowldrome in Renfrew.
(written by Kasey Egan)