Lily Freel (left), pictured with her friend, Alyssa Cloud, dressed up as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for the Clark Township Community Christmas Party Sunday, December 7, at the Community Center on M-134. Hessel and Cedarville residents joined together Sunday, December 7, to celebrate the holiday season at the Clark Township Community Center on M-134.

The party, sponsored by First Union Church, gave away food items for adults, toys and candy for children, and even featured a visit from Santa Claus.

Children and adults were each given raffle tickets for separate drawings as they walked in the door, and the giving of prizes began almost immediately. Tickets were called off and every child was given the chance to pick out a toy from under the Christmas tree.

Master of ceremonies Rob Burger also called off adult raffle tickets to win fruit baskets, turkeys, or hams. About 25 adults won food items.

Toys and food items given away at the party were purchased with the help of several grants, including $430 from Hessel VFW Post 7958, $500 from the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation, and $500 from Wal-Mart. Toys not given away will be saved for next year's community Christmas party, said organizer Cathy Nordquist.

Santa Claus (Mike Davis of Cedarville) makes his way into the Clark Township Community Christmas Party Sunday, December 7. Every child at the party had the opportunity to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Residents socialized and en - joyed free cookies, coffee, and lemonade while the Kids Rock children's choir from First Union Church serenaded the crowd with familiar holiday songs including, "Away in a Manger," "Jingle Bells," "The First Noel," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Rein - deer." The children's choir, led by Kim Dunn, sang while everyone waited for Santa Claus (played by Mike Davis from Cedarville) to arrive.

Once the big man in red arrived, children lined up to sit in his lap to tell him what they want for Christmas. Each child was given candy from Santa.

Hank McClure helps his son, Jayden, pick out a toy at the Clark Township Community Christmas Party in the Community Center at Cedarville Sunday, December 7. The First Union Church children's choir, Kids Rock, sings for the crowd at the Clark Township Community Christmas Party December 7. The kids sang familiar holiday songs including, "Jingle Bells," Away in a Manger," and "The First Noel."