Local News

Black Santa thrills young and old in Rainier Valley

Originally published December 20, 2020 at 5:44 pmUpdated December 21, 2020 at 9:46 am

Amanda Reddaway holds her 8-month-old, Kendrick Barnes, up for a photo with Black Santa, as he waves in the background. Community members gathered for the opportunity to take a photo with Black Santa and get some gifts for children at the Rainier Beach Community Center on Saturday. The free event was organized by K-Hart of FB2T Photography and Moe Vegan food truck, in collaboration with Holiday Hangout, a group that gathered donations to provide 350 toys for distribution that day. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

From left, siblings Ja’kwan, 9, Javon’e, 11, Ja’angelo, 8, Shaconna, 17, and Shalaylah, 13, get their photo taken with Black Santa in his booth. Their mom, Shay Anderson, is a cousin of K-Hart, the organizer.(Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Taliyah Gibson, 11, and her aunt Pam Ivey, center, wrap gifts for giving away at the Rainier Beach Community Center. They are part of the Holiday Hangout, a group that has been doing a toy drive and basketball tournament around the holidays for the last six years at the community center. They partnered with the Black Santa event this year to hand out the 350 donated gifts they gathered. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

No holiday event would be complete without some lights. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Santa smiles behind a mask at A. Vang, 4, visiting his booth.(Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

K-Hart, left, organizer of the event, helps Santa adjust his festive mask.(Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

A young kid watches from the car window while in line to see Santa. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Due to the pandemic, Santa doesn’t even get a dressing room this year, and puts on his red suit in the parking lot. Santa was played by local musician Frenchy Condé Lamont. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Elijah Green, 10, hands out wrapped gifts to a family coming through the line. Green is part of the Holiday Hangout, a group that has been doing a toy drive and basketball tournament around the holidays for the last six years at the Rainier Beach Community Center. They partnered with the Black Santa event this year to hand out the 350 donated gifts they gathered. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

Santa waves to a young visitor to his booth, from behind a plexiglass divider. (Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

A. Vang, 4, smiles for a photo in Santa’s booth.(Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times)

The free event was organized by K-Hart of FB2T Photography and Moe Vegan food truck, in collaboration with Holiday Hangout, a group that gathered donations to provide 350 toys for distribution that day.

Bettina Hansen

Seattle Times staff photographer

Bettina Hansen: bhansen@seattletimes.com.

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