The event was held in honor of Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, a Ludlow resident who was killed in Afghanistan in May.
December 19, 2010 - Ludlow - Staff photo by Michael S. Gordon - Santa Claus, center with beard, accepts unwrapped gifts for the U. S. Marine CorpToys for Tots program in exchange for candy canes from children and adults outside the Ludlow Fire and Police Departments, one of several stops around the town Sunday. Santa, Mrs. Claus and helpers travelled in Keith Ouellette's Belgian horse drawn wagon. At left is Dillan Craven, 8. At right is his sister, Rayanna Craven, 5, and his father, Walter Craven, lower right. LUDLOW – Drivers, joggers, residents walking their dogs and Santa Clause all shared the road Sunday as Santa rode into town on a horse-drawn carriage.
Santa, Mrs. Santa Clause and a helper elf made several stops in town to collect new toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign, which collects unwrapped toys for distribution to children in need.
"The whole town really came together to make this happen," said James "Chip" Harrington, co-coordinator of the event.
Keith Ouellette, owner of Mainly Drafts, a company that offers horse drawn carriage rides in Ludlow, came up with the idea of driving the horses through town collecting toys.
The Rotary Club, the Ludlow Fire and Police Departments, Ludlow Town Hall and area business all supported the idea.
"It’s our first year doing this, but I hope we can do this every year," Ouellette said.
The event was held in honor of Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, a Ludlow resident who was killed in Afghanistan in May.
"His family lives in town and Keith came up with this idea of honoring him and collecting gifts," Harrington said.
Many families stopped by to visit Santa and the horses and to drop-off new gifts.
Sofia Hickson, 9, of Wilbraham, brought some special gifts. For her birthday this year she asked her friends to give her toys that she could donate to Toys for Tots instead of buying her presents. She delivered the gifts with her family.
"We hope this event will attract families every year and become a real tradition in Ludlow," Harrington said.
The horses stopped at seven other locations including the Chapin Street School, Town Hall, Rick Wrona’s Garage on Holyoke Street, Pop ‘n Kork on Cady Street, Christ the King Church on Warsaw Avenue, the Ludlow Senior Center on Chestnut Street and the East Street Elementary School.
The carriage was almost filled with gifts just after the first stop.
"People have been very generous," Harrington said.