Children have special breakfast with Clauses

By Rosanne Lewis

Neiman Marcus at NorthPark Center’s Breakfast with Santa is a favorite for Dallas children.

But what about children living in the protective care of the state? This year, Neiman Marcus remembered them, too, with their very own Breakfast with Santa.

The children served by Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) were the lucky recipients of the special morning.

Thirty adults and 40 children came to the NM Café early Saturday, Dec. 4 to enjoy ricotta pancakes, bacon and eggs and other breakfast favorites. But the highlight, of course, was Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children’s eyes lit up and smiles overtook their faces as Santa and Mrs. Claus, resplendent in costume, took time with each and every child, listening to them and their families, asking their Christmas wishes and wishing them a happy holiday. A balloon artist traveled table to table with fun and silly antics, making balloon animals, Christmas items like candy cane swords, reindeer hats and even Max, the Grinch’s dog. A guitarist set the mood with holiday music throughout the event, which happened before Neiman Marcus opened for the day.

Dallas CASA CEO Kathleen M. LaValle welcomed families and children to the event, but the day was really about children and the magic of the holiday season. The café was decorated for Christmas, and children enjoyed breakfast with cloth napkins and fancy table settings.

Children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect and been removed from unsafe homes are placed in the protective care of the state. These children are assigned trained community volunteers by the courts to advocate for their best interests. Dallas CASA volunteers advocate for educational, medical and therapeutic healing for children amidst an overwhelmed child welfare system. In 2020, Dallas CASA’s 1,527 volunteers were assigned to advocate for 3,374 children in protective care.

For so many of these children, protective care can be a frightening and uncertain place, and their Dallas CASA volunteer is the one constant, caring adult.

For privacy reasons, we can’t show you the children’s faces, but know the Christmas spirit was alive and well in the NM Café December 4.