Holiday season begins with
Salute to Santa Parade
M
cKeesport welcomed hundreds of visitors from across
the Mon Valley to enjoy the 53rd annual Salute to
Santa parade on November 18.
Each year, the city kicks off the holiday season with this
exciting procession of student groups, marching bands,
community organizations, local officials and public safety
vehicles. The last fire truck, of course, always carries Santa
Claus.
After the parade, families gathered at the Palisades for a
children’s party, where kids received a free lunch courtesy
of the Mon Yough Chamber Foundation, McKeesport
Recreation Board, McKeesport Lions Club, Eat’n Park, and
Turner’s Dairy.
Firefighters
donate coats
to McKeesport
students
M
cKeesport firefighters organized
their fifth donation through
Coats for Kids and Operation Warm to
students of the McKeesport Area School
District. Firefighters, police, and teachers
raised funds with a spring event at
Clancy’s Pub in Dravosburg – allowing
them to donate winter coats for every
student at Twin Rivers Elementary.
“We want to say ‘thank you’ to all
the businesses and individuals who
donated, not only to our fundraiser,
but throughout the year to make this
possible,” said Gene Esken, president
of the International Association of Fire
Fighters Local 10 of McKeesport. “We are
fortunate enough to have been able to
put a coat on every kid this year.”
Bethlehem Baptist
Church hosts
Thanksgiving feast
B
ethlehem Baptist Church hosted its annual
Community Thanksgiving Dinner on
November 17 – inviting church members, city
residents, public officials, and the homeless
to enjoy a meal, conversation, and prayer
together.
Volunteers from the church, city, and McKeesport Area schools served a turkey dinner with
all the fixings. Children also gathered to hear a Thanksgiving story read by Mayor Michael
Cherepko.
“This is an event I look forward to every year,” Cherepko said. “I bring my daughter, my
nieces, and their friends to take part in this community service with me. It gives them a
unique opportunity to give back to the City of McKeesport and to share the season of giving
with those in need. That’s what the holidays are truly about.”
28 McKeesport Area