Staff at the Picton Metro store set out to offer an affordable, family friendly meal to augment Sunday’s Santa Claus parade. They ended up helping children in need too.

With the jolly old elf rolling down Main Street, the Metro store sold hot dogs, hot chocolate, and chili for $1.50 each and pledged to give the proceeds to The Children’s Foundation Christmas Angel Tree campaign.

By the time the activity wrapped up, they had $430 to give to the program that offers Christmas presents for children and hampers to their families who are having a hard time making ends meet.

Franchisee Murray Lupenette said his staff were brainstorming to try to figure out a charity to benefit from the event, when his wife suggested the Angel Tree campaign as she has made it a tradition to pick angels off the tree and shops for them.

“Everyone went ‘Yeah, we should do that,'” he said. “The (Christmas Angel campaign) does a lot of good work and they never come and ask for anything.

Lupenette said he thought setting up and vending from the parking lot went well and the proceeds show it was well received.

Angel Tree campaign chair Susan Rose was grateful for the donation, adding it will help to buy presents for children on the tree whose names have not yet been picked.

There have been more than 200 children entered in the program already.

Those interested in registering for the program, donating money, or shopping for an angel can call Rose at 613-242-9206 or visit the campaign’s Benson Hall office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

-Staff