Operation Santa to take place Thursday, donations accepted all day

By Stephi Smith, Executive Editor|December 15, 2015

This Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Red Onion Burgers will be hosting an “Operation Santa,” a charity event that will include a food, coat and toy drive and a chance to have a dinner with Santa Claus.

The event is sponsored by the Mountlake Terrace Fire District 1 and the Cheeseburger Babies Foundation.

“Firefighters recognize the need to provide food, coats and toys to local families that are less fortunate and not likely to experience the joys of the holiday season.” the event advertisement read as displayed on the Red Onion Burgers Facebook page.

Members of the community are encouraged to bring any unwrapped toys or gently worn coats. Cash donations are also accepted.

The MTHS Key Club will also be hosting a food drive and accepting nonperishable foods outside the restaurant from 3 to 7 p.m.

Owner Seaun Richards said this event had been brought up with the Fire District multiple times in the past and was finally being brought to life.

“I’d been speaking with the Fire District all year about something like this and I just decided to get started on it,” Richards said.

Anyone who brings a donation on Thursday will have 20 percent off of his or her total purchase, according to the Facebook page.

Richards also said there will be a donations box outside the restaurant so if anyone wants to “just drive by and drop something off,” he is more than happy to accept.

A Santa Claus impersonator will be at the restaurant and will be dining with the customers from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Fire District will also be on site from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

About the Writer

Stephi Smith, Executive Editor

Stephi Smith is one of the co-Editors-in-Chief of the Hawkeye. Her official title is Executive Editor.

This is Stephi’s fourth year on the Hawkeye. Last year, she created a Hawkeye Snapchat account with the hopes of advancing the organization’s coverage of online and social media reporting.

Prior to serving as Editor, she was the News Editor her junior year and Copy Editor her sophomore year, as well as taking the lead on the Crime and Police beat. During her sophomore year, she attended the JEA National Convention in Washington, D.C. where she learned she wanted to be a journalist. Since then, she’s fallen in love with reporting and reported on many different kinds of stories, from School Board meetings to sexual assault on campus.

Next year, Stephi will be attending the University of Missouri with a major in Journalism. As a career, she hopes to report on either crime, government and politics or education.