The holiday season kicks off in Marlton, New Jersey, with the annual tree lighting at The Promenade at Sagemore.
On Saturday, November 16, the South Jersey Mall will light the tree along with Santa Claus and musical guests.
The event will take place from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM and will include a petting zoo for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey.
The Ronald McDonald House in southern New Jersey will also host a gift drive. It will take place in the pop-up shop at the house on the Promenade in Sagemore, called ‘the Holiday House’. They collect new gifts, unwrapped gifts and gift cards. The pop-up store is open on Black Friday from noon to 3 p.m. and every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. from November 30 to December 22.
The Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey will also wrap gifts and award prizes for the whole family. It is the first time that the house is organizing the gift campaign. The focus is on Christmas gifts for 12 to 18 year olds living in the house in Camden.
“When people hear the Ronald McDonald House, they often associate it with our little ones, and they’re certainly not wrong. But we also have teenagers who stay with us,” said Katherine Amenta, director of development at the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey , said. “We just want to make sure they have gifts for the holidays and it can be just as special for them too.”
Amenta said the desired gifts include earplugs, gift cards, side bags and thermal cups.
“Anything you think a teenager would like, we would like to have for our teenagers,” Amenta said.
Gifts can be dropped off directly at the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey in Camden or at the Promenade at Sagemore in Marlton.
Nikki De Mentri
