MENDOTA - Santa Claus is coming to Mendota! The Graves-Hume Public Library will host a “Drive Thru Grab n Take” event for children on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

All members of the community are invited to bring their children and drive through the library’s parking lot where each child in the vehicle will receive a free gift bag that includes an Usborne book and a craft. In addition, the Optimist Club will serve free hot dogs for all who come. No library card is required; the event is open to the public. To ensure the safety of event attendees and library staff, everyone is asked to please stay in their car and wear a mask.

Mrs. Claus is concerned about keeping Santa healthy, so this year Santa will be waving at everyone from afar. But be sure to bring a letter for Santa. Please include a full name and address for a return letter from Santa. “We are so happy to have Santa coming to the library,” said Emily Kofoid, library director. “We know he’s busy this time of year, so we are grateful that he made time to visit Mendota. We hope that everyone will stop by for the festivities.”

The Usborne books were received through donations from the community, which was organized by Jennifer Bast and Kristin Decker in partnership with Graves-Hume Public Library. During the month of September, Bast and Decker asked community members and organizations to donate monetary gifts. The fundraiser allowed over 390 books to be purchased for local children.

The crafts were donated by the Friends of the Library, which is a separate, charitable entity that supports the library in financial donations for books and programs not in the library’s budget.

The library asks that everyone please stay in their vehicle and wear a mask for the duration of the “Drive Thru Grab n Take” on Dec. 12. Enter the library’s parking lot using the east entrance from East Main Street and follow the signs. All members of the community are invited. Gift bags will only be given to children present in vehicles.