TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Kids Get Early Holiday Gift

Tribune photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

The children were treated at International Plaza to breakfast and a sit-down with the Polar Express conductor.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2008

TAMPA - Fifty children, all clad in flannel jammies and Christmas hats and slippers, ushered in the holiday season at a shopping mall Friday that included a giant snow globe and a Polar Express holiday train.

The kids, some in foster care and others in stressful living situations, were treated at International Plaza to breakfast and a sit-down with the Polar Express conductor that included an excursion into the 20-foot-diameter globe.

The exhibit will stay up for the rest of the holiday season, and the conductor, local part-time actor Bob Richardson, who dyed his hair and grew a mustache for the part, will be on hand during the weekends.

Keith Morelli

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT