“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

And thanks to Virginia Crowther of Lehighton, Santa Claus made an appearance at the McDonald’s at the Carbon Plaza Mall, Lehighton on Saturday to help bring more of the Christmas spirit to the area.

“They haven’t had a Christmas tree here in four years,” Crowther said of the McDonald’s in Lehighton. “We wanted to do this, because it’s for the children.”

Santa was at the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. listening to the children give last minute gift ideas and giving out candy canes, meal tickets, and toys to the children.

Emma Freeby of Lehighton was one of the children who whispered in Santa’s ear what she was hoping to receive on Christmas. Asked if she was ready for Christmas, she nodded her head enthusiastically.

Crowther said she started working on this idea back in October.

“We had to go through the corporate office to make the arrangements,” she said. “And we really wanted to do this for the children. Christmas is for children.”

Crowther was joined by Kathleen Behler, Brenda Haas, Pat Schneider and Bill Hughes in bringing back some of the Christmas spirit to the Lehighton area.