Gateway Community hosts drive-thru with 501 Prime
For the third year, the Gateway Community Association is hosting its holiday “Here Comes Santa” Toy Giveaway on Monday, but in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic they will hold it as a drive-thru event.
“It’s going to be a little bit different this year,” Robin Wise, event coordinator, told The Sentinel-Record Thursday.
“At first, we really didn’t know what we were going to do, but the fact is COVID is here and we just had to readjust. The main thing is to still make it a magical Christmas for the kids who come out.”
With Matt Fuller, owner of 501 Prime Restaurant, located at 215 E. Grand Ave., partnering with Gateway as he has done with the previous two events, the group opted to make use of his parking lot. From 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday, participants can enter the lot on Jefferson Street, between Malvern Avenue and Pleasant Street, and will exit on East Grand.
“Gateway Community collectively agreed that during this COVID period it is more important to show the true Spirit of Christmas of giving to those most in need and demonstrating love and joy to our community. The Gateway Elves will be handing out hundreds of toys for children ages from newborn to 12 years old and each car will receive candy, milk and cookies from Santa,” a news release said.
“Christmas is a powerful time for reflection and the charitable three-year partnership with Matt Fuller, owner of
501 Prime Restaurant is a real blessing to our community. We can’t thank the
501 Prime family enough for their generosity & support for this event and all year round,” Jean Lacefield, Gateway president, said in the release.
The Gateway Community had previously held its “Here Comes Santa” event at The Hotel Hot Springs & Spa, and it will continue its support this year by donating cookies. Highland Milk donated individual cartons of milk to be given out and other donors and Gateway members provided candy and funding for the purchase of toys, Wise said.
The past two years, Santa Larry Jefferson visited Hot Springs and greeted children of all ages and took a picture with over 400 children and families. On Santa Larry’s first visit in 2018, Mayor Pat McCabe presented him with a key to the city of Hot Springs. Santa Larry has been named America’s Best Santa and has been the Santa for Mall of America for several years while making appearances on many other national programs.
Due to the pandemic, Santa Larry has curtailed his in-person visits and while he is still working with children through his website, he will be unable to come to this year’s event, Wise said, noting, “We are hoping we will be able to have him back next year once things return to normal.”
While Santa Larry will be absent, the
Gateway Community Association “decided we would continue in the true Spirit of Christmas as a spirit of giving with milk & cookies, candy and toys in a Drive Thru Toy Giveaway,” the release said.
There will also be a station set up in the parking lot for children to drop off their letters to Santa, Wise said.
All Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines will be followed and attendees will have to remain in their cars at all times, she said, noting those handing out the toys and candy will be wearing masks.
“I can’t wait to see the excitement on the faces of the children and families as this is the true evidence of the shining Christmas season,” she said. “Come one, come all, the Gateway Elves will be there!”