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The kids took home presents, ate a spaghetti meal and had a chance to shop for mom and dad.
But the highlight of Christmas at the North Pole, an annual event at Tacoma Christian Center, was a unanimous choice for the three Gonzalez children.
“I liked taking a picture with Santa Claus,” said Andrew, 8.
“Yeah, I liked taking a picture with Santa Claus too,” said Israel, 6.
And even though 5-year-old Vanessa remained quiet and clung to her mother’s leg, she eventually agreed that she also enjoyed getting a snapshot with St. Nick.
“They had an absolutely great time,” said 26-year-old Julia Gonzalez of Tacoma, the kids’ mother. “This was such a nice thing the church put on.”
The Gonzalezes were among more than 2,000 people who participated in the event Saturday, a joint project of Tacoma Christian Center and World Vision. The activities included songs, games, videos, a meal, a gift for the kids (already wrapped), a spot for kids to get their picture on Santa’s lap, racks of donated clothes and a room where the kids could pick up gifts for their mother and father.
More than 100 volunteers helped route the kids through the various rooms of the large church on Tacoma’s East Side. It took about three weeks to set up the celebration, the church’s pastor, Terry Harris, said.
