Sunday's Waukesha Christmas parade to help Blood Center
Mason Pagenkopf, who was born 15 weeks early and weighed less than two pounds, now serves as an ambassador for the BloodCenter of Wisconsin, title sponsor for Sunday's Christmas parade in Waukesha.
With the help of Mason and his parents, routine blood donors Cindy and Kevin Pagenkopf, the BloodCenter of Wisconsin hopes to remind people that blood donations, which often decrease during the holiday season, are a special gift that can help save lives.
The 49th annual Waukesha Christmas parade of more than 100 units will begin at 4 p.m. at the intersection of White Rock Ave. and E. Main St., travel primarily along E. and W. Main St. and end at Wisconsin and Maple avenues.
Gifts of another sort - toys for needy children - also will be the focus on parade day.
A major toy drive for the Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha County will begin during the pre-day festivities downtown. Toys will be collected Sunday (and until Dec. 14) at these downtown sites: Cuddles Hallmark & Martha Merrell's Books & Café, 231 Main St.; Sprizzo Gallery Caffé, 363 W. Main St.; and the Waukesha County Historical Museum, 101 W. Main St.
Students from Waukesha West and North high schools will represent the Clearing Council in the parade and hand out information on how the public can help. Besides the toy collection, donor families can be matched with other families in need, giving toys or clothing in the amount of $60 per child and delivering the gifts personally by Dec. 14.
Prospective sponsors can call (262) 549-NOEL (6635) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday or from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday evenings.