Santa Claus will visit the Ironton City Center at 9 a.m. Saturday, but instead of gifts his sleigh will be filled with pancakes and sausages.

Breakfast with Santa is sponsored by the Ironton Area Kiwanis Club to

raise money to help local kids during Christmas and throughout the year. The cost will be $4 per child and children under the age of two eat for free.

"We wanted to provide the opportunity for people to bring their kids downtown and sit on Santa's lap," Larry Anderson, Kiwanis president, said. "Unless you go to the mall, kids really cannot do that."

Anderson said the proceeds will be used to buy toys and food that will be donated to the Ironton City Welfare Mission and to help fund a free diaper program administered through the Lawrence County Health Department.

"The whole purpose of Kiwanis is to help kids in this area," he said. "With this program we want to try to make their Christmas a little brighter."

The organization hopes that at least 100 people show up. Even though this is the first year that the Kiwanis has sponsored this program, if it is successful it will become an annual event, he said.

Pictures with Santa will be available for an additional fee that has yet to be set. Children will also have the opportunity to color Christmas pictures that will be displayed at the Ironton City Center throughout the holiday season.

Anderson said the event would not be possible without the assistance of Mayor Bob Cleary who will make a special appearance and Roo-Barbs restaurant who will provide the food.

Kiwanis members will help operate the activity and Anderson said they are always looking for additional members and volunteers.

"We just try to make a difference and make Ironton a better place to live," he said.