Lowes employees bring Santa for a visit to Highlands Family Center in Tarentum

Rhylee Griffin had her first-ever meet and greet with Santa on Monday in Tarentum. She slept through the entire visit.

The 6-week-old was snuggled by Santa and Mrs. Claus during a Christmas party at Highlands Family Center along East Fourth Avenue.

“This is her first time in her life seeing Santa,” said her mother, Ashley, as she documented the moment with lots of photos.

“I want to remember it.”

Santa and Mrs. Claus were the guests of honor at the festivity hosted for more than 50 children and their families.

Employees from the Lowe’s store at Pittsburgh Mills donated gifts for everyone who attended. A handful of them also dressed as elves and volunteered to run games and crafts during the party.

Cashier Maryann Farr, dressed in festive garb with elf ears and jingle bells, said workers were “all in” on the idea.

“We started a committee and decided we wanted to help children and seniors,” Farr said.

The same group delivered sacks of snacks to the Logan House nursing home in New Kensington over the weekend.

“Everyone just wants to help,” Farr said. “They were all so happy at that senior center that I left in tears.”

Highlands Family Center, run by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit, offers free services that include a diaper bank and food pantry. Other programs include home visits, field trips, parent groups and addiction recovery.

There are 80 enrolled families, but the center is utilized by many more from across Allegheny County and portions of Westmoreland County.

“We just want to offer a comfortable place for parents and children and give them help where they need it,” service coordinator Gina Bishop said.

The Christmas party is an annual event but was put on hold during covid. Bishop said her group was excited to be gathering in-person to wish everyone a happy holiday.

There were craft stations where children created reindeer food from oats and sparkles and made snowmen from tiny donuts. After, they tried their luck tossing snowballs into a snowman’s belly while holiday music played in the background.

“They seem like they’re enjoying everything,” case manager Toni Vassas said. “Especially this reindeer fuel.”

Party-goer Hartlee Hickman said she was most looking forward to seeing Santa.

The 5-year-old said she wanted to make sure Santa got her note asking for LOL dolls.

Callin McIntyre, 2, didn’t have to say what his favorite part was. He devoured a sprinkled Smiley cookie, donated by Eat’n Park, jumping up and down while he ate it.

“He’s having a wonderful time,” said his mother, Ashley.