The Matlock Recreation Club is going to need a bigger hall if it keeps on organizing wildly successful free breakfasts with Santa every year.
The club, its volunteers and firefighters from the Matlock Fire Department threw a whopping big party last Saturday that had 420 people from across the Interlake attend. The event included a free breakfast, visits and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and free gifts and goody bags for the kids. Last year’s event had just over 300 people.
The club’s board president Brenda-Lee Walker said that in her three years of service this has been the highest number of people she’s seen attend the event.
“This event is a club tradition. We’re carrying on what the past board and club members have done for years and years. Coming out of COVID, we had to find ways to work around that and we did, and it’s been growing and growing every year,” said Walker. “It’s so huge now that we actually had to have a cap in order to accommodate all the people who pre-registered. Next year we’ll figure out how to get more people in.”
Firefighters took over the club’s kitchen to cook and serve pancakes and sausages.
“This is the third time the fire department has volunteered for this event. We like to give back to the community and help the recreation club,” said fire chief Seth Johnson, who was joined by about 12 firefighters.
The club’s ability to provide the free breakfast and free gifts comes down to the generosity of the community and area businesses, which donated items the club raffled off at its October and November Bingo games. The proceeds from those games, which are coordinated by Denyse Stewner, fund the breakfast.
Stewner said the Village of Dunnottar is in need of Christmas hampers for people struggling with inflation, and she organized the 1st Annual Toonie Hamper Tree fundraiser at the breakfast. People were invited to donate a toonie and pick an ornament to decorate the club’s Christmas tree.
“All the proceeds go to the village for hampers, and the fire department is delivering the hampers,” said Stewner.
The club is hosting a number of upcoming events, including an ugly Christmas sweater contest on Dec. 15. Visit Matlock Recreation Club – MRC on Facebook.
Express Photos By Patricia Barrett
