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Santa Claus had his house moved to the east end of the Kmart parking lot, Warsaw, Monday.
Santa made the move this year from his usual downtown location to "reach more children," Warsaw Morning Optimist Club member and Santa spokes-elf Bruce Woodward said.
Santa's House, sponsored by the the Optimist Club and the Warsaw Community High School Octagon Club, will be at Kmart Dec. 8 through Dec. 24. Hours are 5:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.
"Every child that comes will get to talk to Santa and get a free Polaroid picture with Santa and a candy cane," said Art Gakstatter, another one of Santa's little helpers.
This year, there also will be nontraditional and bilingual Santas. Optimists want all children to enjoy the experience of telling Santa their Christmas lists in person.
With the WCHS Octagon Club co-sponsoring Santa's House this year, Gakstatter said, "older kids will be helping younger kids." The Octagon Club is a companion youth club to the Optimist Club, Woodward said.
He also said part of the Optimists' slogan is to be friends of youth and that's why they sponsor Santa's House.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department escorted Santa's house to Kmart. Kyle Tom provided the truck to move the house. Santa knows who's been naughty or nice, so both Tom and the sheriff's department should see some nice presents under their trees this year for helping Santa with the move.
