By Judaea Ingram
Staff Writer
The line stretched out the door as cars filled the parking lot and spilled onto Tarboro Road outside the Tarboro Road Community Center, where hundreds of families gathered Saturday morning for the 44th annual Breakfast With Santa, a holiday tradition rooted in the Tarboro Road community and led for decades by Octavia Rainey.
Held from 10 a.m. to noon on the Saturday before Christmas, the free event welcomed families for a morning of food, music, gifts and fellowship. Inside the center, classic Christmas songs played as children danced, crafted desserts and waited eagerly to meet Santa Claus.
“This is the season of giving,” said Tanya Burnette, who attended the event. “It’s encouraging to see people giving back to the community.”
Families were treated to a hot breakfast of freshly made pancakes, eggs and sausage, along with hot chocolate. Volunteers dressed in holiday attire worked throughout the space serving food, directing families and helping distribute gifts.
One of the most popular attractions was the professional photo station, where children posed with a Black Santa Claus in front of a decorated backdrop with studio lighting and a photographer. Families were able to pick up their photos before leaving, creating a keepsake of the morning.
After registering, children received age-appropriate, wrapped gifts, including toy trucks, Barbies, stuffed animals and more. Organizers said the turnout exceeded expectations, with more than 700 children served.
“It was nonstop,” one volunteer said. “We had to bring in more gifts.”
The community center quickly reached capacity as families filled tables decorated in green and red. Music and laughter echoed through the room as children danced together and parents smiled, many capturing the moment on their phones.
“The turnout, that’s what brought me,” said Lila Livingston, who regularly attends activities at the center. “It’s beautiful to see everybody together.”
Community support played a major role in the event’s success. Members of fraternities, sororities, local organizations and the Raleigh Police Department volunteered their time.
The program also included raffles for adults and children, with prizes such as bicycles, a kitchen set, a television and more. A step show by members of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship added to the festive atmosphere.
The tradition spans more than four decades. Rainey said the event began with her grandmother, who hosted a similar holiday gathering for about 20 years before Rainey continued the tradition in 1981.
“When I started, I never imagined it would grow like this,” Rainey said. “But every year, it just keeps growing.”
This year’s turnout was among the largest, she said, with cars lining Tarboro Road as early as 9:30 a.m.
“I walked around the building and thought, ‘Wow,’” Rainey said. “But the outreach really worked.”
Rainey said she personally visited shelters and hotels, coordinated transportation for families, worked with Wake County Human Services and posted flyers throughout the neighborhood to reach residents without internet access.
“I wanted to make sure no one was left out,” she said.
As the morning came to a close, families continued to arrive and volunteers worked steadily to keep the event running smoothly.
For many, Breakfast With Santa was more than a holiday meal or gift giveaway, it was a reflection of the Tarboro Road community’s commitment to generosity, tradition and togetherness : a spirit Rainey has helped sustain for more than 40 years.
