Santa Delights Kids at VFW Brunch

By Maddy Vitale Lucas Cummings was anxious to tell Santa Claus what he wanted for Christmas during a brunch with Santa and toy giveaway at the VFW Post 1963, 301 41st Street in Sea Isle, Sunday. “I want an air hockey table,” Lucas, 5, of Feasterville, Pa., said as his mom Lena Cummings, holding him, smiled. His sister, Gabby Cummings, was all prepared to tell St. Nick her choice of present under the tree. “I want a slime kit,” she chimed in. Lena Cummings laughed and shook her head. Lena Cummings, along with her children, Gabby, 9, and Lucas, 5, wait in line for breakfast. About 70 people - parents and their children, packed into VFW Post 1963, to enjoy a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs, waffles, bacon and juice. Children waited their turn to tell Santa what they wished for, and each of them received a wrapped gift. The event, sponsored by the Sea Isle City VFW Post 1963 in cooperation with Sea Isle City Recreation, has grown over the years, Post Commander Charles Haines said. “This is the 13th year of the breakfast. This one is definitely the biggest one yet,” Haines said. The city handles the registration for the event, which separates the children by age and gender. This helps the volunteers with their selection of toys and other gifts they should purchase for the toy giveaway. “I always try to buy extra in case someone shows up who isn’t registered,” Haines said. “Parents should register their kids ahead of time, so we know what to get them.” About a week before the event VFW members receive information from the city about the children registered and they hit the stores. This year they made a trip on Wednesday. “We had to do a lot of shopping fast,” Haines joked.  We love doing this event.” Haines said it isn’t hard to see why he can safely say the brunch is a hit with the children.  “Look at the smiles on the kids’ faces and they haven’t even seen Santa yet,” he said. People nibbled on their brunch and chatted. Some kids waited in line to get their faces painted. When Santa arrived, and gave a few “Ho Hos” kids stopped what they were doing, and quickly formed something that resembled a line in between tables with little room to spare in the bustling room. Parents and grandparents clicked their cellphone cameras to get those perfect shots of the kids on Santa’s lap. Within minutes of receiving a gift-wrapped toy, many of the children tore into the paper. Ava and her brother Andres Edwards, of Philadephia, smile as mom Michelle takes their photo. Ava Edwards, 6, of Philadelphia and her brother Andres Edwards, 5, had a front row seat to Santa and literally, only had to walk a foot, and they were on his lap. They each whispered what they wanted from him and they smiled for their mom, Michelle Edwards, to take a photo. Chloe Cramer, 5, and her sister Kenni, 3, both of Wildwood Crest, are lucky. Every year their cool uncle, Matt Cifaloglio, of Sea Isle, brings them to the toy giveaway. Chloe proudly showed off her new doll, while her sister told Santa what she wished for under the tree. Some of the kids seemed to get the perfect gift before even asking for it. Chloe Cramer, 5, of Wildwood Crest, couldn't wait to open her gift. Trent Lera, 5, clad in an Eagles T-shirt, got a gift that seemed to be tailor-made for him: A football. Nanny Borden, of Sea Isle, brought along her great-grand daughter Maddi Monaghan, 5, also of Sea Isle, enjoyed getting her face painted and loved munching on some waffles. Borden, who helps with a city-sponsored toy giveaway summed up the day. “It’s just a great event.”