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Santa helps collect toys in Jupiter

Little Smiles throws parade
Little Smiles - Santa
Posted at 12:55 PM, Jul 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-25 18:57:59-04

JUPITER, Fla — Kids lined the streets of a Jupiter neighborhood on Saturday, wearing Christmas pajamas and waiting to see Santa six months early.

Jupiter Heights, already known for their Griswold-style over decorating, pulled out inflatables to greet Santa and his parade.

Saturday morning, Santa helped the Little Smiles charity collect toys for needy children for their annual toy drive.

"For the first year, I think we did a great job!" said Santa.

Last year Little Smiles collected around 10,000 toys. "We know this year the need will be greater than ever so we want to get a head start so that every child in our community still feels the magic of the holidays," said Nicole Mercado, Executive Director for Little Smiles.

"[These toys] go to local area hospitals and shelters and hospices, and underserved members of our community. They come forward because they know Little Smiles supply their church groups and kids that are often forgotten," said 97.9 WRFM's KVJ host Virginia Sinicki.

Santa said he loves seeing the kids get toys at Christmas time, "It makes my heart flutter."

Sinicki said it's not too late to help, "Five or ten bucks, whatever you can afford. Text Little Smiles to 44321."