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 14th 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!”