Santa to visit Lakemoor neighborhoods but asks for Toys for Tots donations

Coronavirus canceled the traditional kids' photo op with Santa, so Lakemoor will be bringing the big guy to them.

Starting about 9 a.m. Dec. 19, Santa and his helpers will arrive in Lakemoor for a police escort on village streets.

Flashing lights and blaring sirens will alert little ones that the guest of honor will be arriving in their neighborhoods in five minutes. Santa will follow in a sleigh mounted on a trailer and surrounded by Plexiglas to provide a safe experience.

"We were talking about how to do this outside and not congregate together," said Village Administrator David Alarcon. "It was something the employees put together for the community."

A route map is posted, and the event will be livestreamed at lakemoorparks.net.

Santa will stop for pictures with kids along the way, but residents are asked to help fill a truck with new toys for the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots campaign.

Toys For Tots typically steps in to make sure no child is left out during the holidays, but there has been a significant drop in donations, according to the village.

That was the directive from Santa in a response to a letter from Mayor Todd Weihofen, who said the village staff was ready to help find a creative way to continue the annual holiday tradition.

"We cannot let this year go by without a visit," Santa responded to the special request. But he wanted a favor.

"We are asking your community to donate new toys," he wrote.

Alarcon said the village also has been posting daily pictures of the Elf on the Shelf at various locations in town as a fun holiday diversion.

"We're just trying to bring a little bit of normalcy for Christmas," he said.