A local food drive will aid about 25 families in the Falcon area, and organizers are asking for help from the community.Amy Stull, Woodmen Hills Community Center West events coordinator, said Woodmen Hills recreation centers west and east and the Meridian Ranch Recreation Center are sponsoring the food drive, which continues through Dec. 16.”This is the third year we have had the food drive,” Stull said. “If anybody in the community knows of people in need we hope they will please let us know.”Non-perishable food can be taken to Woodmen Hills Community Center West, the recreation center east, Meridian Ranch Recreation Center and several local businesses, including Palmer Chiropractic, the Falcon Fire Department, Frankie’s Too, Curves, Mane Salon, Farmer’s State Bank, Falcon State Bank, Big R, Pack and Ship, Meineke and KFC, she said.Stull said food drive organizers received names of people who are in need of donated food items from local schools and churches.Stull would like the community to help in any way they can.”Monetary donations have been made by Grace Community Church and Wal-Mart to supplement any additional needed items,” Stull said.Woodmen Hills Community Center West is sponsoring additional community events in December as well.On Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., a Christmas tree-lighting celebration is scheduled at Woodmen Hills Community Center West. Stull said Mrs. Colorado-United States, Sunshine Yates, is scheduled to visit. The evening will include performances by Woodmen Hills Elementary and Meridian Ranch Elementary choirs and hot cocoa and cookies. Admission is free, Stull said, but event organizers ask the community to bring a non-perishable food item for the food drive.The food and toy drive continues with a Jolly Jump & Swim on Dec. 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Woodmen Hills Recreation Center East. Admission is free, but kids are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable food items, Stull said.”Kids are encouraged to come and have fun on inflatables and swim,” she said.Antler Creek Golf Course will host a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Santa is available for pictures by a professional photographer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Horse drawn carriage rides, crafts, holiday tattoos and a surprise gift from Santa will add to the festivities.Because of gas prices and budget constraints, Santa will not be climbing the fire department ladder truck this year, said Falcon Fire Department Fire Chief Trent Harwig. He said the annual Santa’s Sleigh event will not happen this year.”We hate to cancel that event because I think the community really enjoyed it,” Harwig said. “We have done it for the last five years. Hopefully it will be back in the future.”For more information on activities sponsored by Woodmen Hills Community Center West call 495-2500, ext.109.
