Each December, the Columbus Autism Network holds a holiday party at the kidscommons for families within their support group.
While COVID-19 canceled this year’s plans, network leaders Heather Baker and Nancy Hiquet, as well as volunteers, made sure festivities still took place.
At the beginning of the month, letters from Santa and his elves began arriving at the homes of network families.
In addition, Baker organized a holiday scavenger hunt that helped families get out and about safely by taking photos around town. Baker also gathered supplies to put together holiday family baskets, which volunteers Laura Coate and Tina and Kaylee Giles helped fill with gingerbread house kits and supplies for crafts and games.
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A big part of the annual holiday party in previous years was a quiet Santa encounter that allowed children to have their photo taken and receive a candy cane from Father Christmas.
Since that wasn’t possible this year, Hiquet organized a drive-thru Santa experience on Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 on Pinewood Drive in Columbus.
Hiquet said her neighbor, Luke Orgass, puts up an elaborate musical light display each year, and that the display worked as a backdrop for the drive-thru.
Families stayed in their cars, tuned their radios to listen to music, and a masked Santa spoke to them through the window and handed out candy canes both days.
