Roselle Lions to host 'Cookies & Cocoa With Santa' Dec. 17

Reports from food pantries in the Northwestern suburbs show that the need for food donations is especially great this year.

To help the local food pantry, the Roselle Lions Club is teaming up with Santa Claus to collect food and household products for the Roselle United Food Pantry.

The Roselle Lions are sponsoring a "Cookies & Cocoa with Santa" event on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Roselle American Legion, 344 E. Maple.

Beginning at 11 a.m., Santa will be available at the Legion Hall to get last-minute requests from kids and posing for photos with them. There will also be snacks of cookies and cocoa to take the chill off the attendees on a cold winter day.

Admission is free but the Lions request that families attending the event bring at least one nonperishable food item or items such as paper products. Cash donations wil also be accepted.

Each dollar donated to the food pantry will result in the purchase of up to $8 of fresh meat, vegetables and fruit to help feed the needy.

Lions Club President Daniel Ellison said that he hoped to beat the club's previous record of 8,000 items collected.

"No one should ever have to go hungry, especially at Christmas," he said.

Food can be dropped off in front of the Legion Hall for persons not wishing to attend the event inside. A van will be available and Lions will collect food from autos with minimal contact.

Monetary donations can also be made via the Roselle Lions website, RoselleLions.com. All money collected will be given to the food pantry.