Cowboy Christmas Cheer in Norco

Reporting by Jerry Soifer

As one might expect in Norco, “Horsetown USA,” Santa parked the sleigh, sent Rudolf, Doner, Blitzen et al for a nosh in the pasture, and rode into town on a horse-drawn carriage on Christmas morning.

And there he joined about 50 volunteers in conjunction with the Cowboys 4 A Cause Foundation, to distribute more than one-thousand gifts to more than 400 children while feeding all-comers, a free holiday meal at the Whiskey River Dancehall and Saloon on Sixth Street.

This was the 14^th year the philanthropic organization, has held this event at the location, with the theme that, “No one should be alone at Christmas.”

Volunteers began setting-up at Midnight, worked through the meal being served from Noon to 4 and then handled the clean-up. Fourteen hams, 18 turkeys and 80 pounds of potatoes filled the menu.

The philanthropic organization addresses the concerns of veterans, at-risk children and teens, economically disadvantaged children and families with special needs.

Santa, who goes by Shawn Keebaugh on other days, said, “My best memory was a little girl came up to me and I talked with her for a little bit and then she hopped up on my knee and gave me a big hug . Her mother said it was the first picture she had ever gotten with Santa where she was not crying. They now have a picture of her smiling and hugging Santa!”