Hospital, Rotary host Breakfast With Santa in Monroeville

Tribune-Review | Monday, December 4, 2023 3:30 p.m.

Harry Funk | Tribune-Review

Santa Claus greets Gateway High School Interact Club members (from left) Jezel Sanford, Abigail Welsh, Saad Naveed, Jay Sen and Madison Lu during Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 2 at Forbes Hospital in Monroeville.

Monroeville must have seemed like the tropics compared with the North Pole for Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Western Pennsylvania rang in December with unseasonably warm weather, as mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine greeted guests as they arrived at Forbes Hospital the morning of Dec. 2.

Once inside, they were treated to a buffet from the Forbes cafeteria for the annual Breakfast With Santa, hosted by the hospital and the Rotary Club of Monroeville.

Along with opportunities to have their pictures taken with the Clauses, visitors were able to participate in numerous activities, including meeting Buddy from “Elf,” Jon Favreau’s popular holiday film celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Students in Gateway High School’s Interact Club volunteered to assist in everything from serving food to reading holiday books to children. The club, which is supported by Rotary, emphasizes community service.

One of the Breakfast With Santa attractions involved children writing letters to Santa and placing them in a mailbox marked “North Pole” — where the Clauses definitely won’t find it to be as balmy as in Monroeville.