Faith Lutheran Church, 3355 MacArthur Road, recently celebrated the Holy Baptism of William Russell Geren, infant son of Brian and Katherine Geren.

William Russell was baptized by his grandfather, the Rev. James O'Connor, who is a retired U.S. Navy chaplain.

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The Hokendauqua Park & Playground Association (HPPA) will again sponsor Operation Santa Claus this holiday season.

Santa will begin his annual visit Sunday, Dec. 15, at noon. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 22.

Hokendauqua firefighters will escort Santa. Feel free to come out to greet him.

The HPPA extends warm holiday greetings to everyone.

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HPPA also is partnering with Girl Scout Troop 63415 to collect food for the Whitehall Food Pantry, located at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Mechanicsville Road.

The local food pantry is in continual need of food donations but even more so during the holiday season. Food donations can be dropped off at the Gockley Elementary School lunch room 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.

The food pantry is looking for nonperishable food items including peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit and vegetables, canned soups and stews, pastas, juices, rice, macaroni and cheese, hot and cold cereals, boxed stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, boxed deserts, canned meats and fish and hamburger or chicken helper.

The donated items will be distributed to Whitehall and Coplay families in need.

Glass containers are acceptable but donors are asked not to give broken, dented or outdated items.

For more information, contact Melissa Dise at 610-297-1864 (by text also) or you can email her at Melissa.dise@yahoo.com.

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Faith Lutheran will present an afternoon concert 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, called "Christmas Reflections."

The concert will feature music by Michael Bodnyk, tenor, and several of his friends. Proceeds of the concert will benefit scholarships for Camp RhythMo, a summer program to be held at Faith Lutheran June 2014.

Camp RhythMo is an interactive health and wellness program, introducing children to important health topics and encouraging healthy self-discovery through music, movement, science and art.

The goal of Camp RhythMo is to provide children the necessary tools to make good choices as they relate to their health, wellness and overall happiness. Camp RhythMo will bombard the senses through music, academics and physical activity, from human anatomy and nutrition, to music, dance, yoga and the creative arts.

For more information about this program for your elementary-age child, call Michael Bodnyk at 646-620-7456.