Printer Friendly Version - The Shore Line Trolley Museum Getting Ready for Annual ‘Visit with Santa’ Event

The Shore Line Trolley Museum is getting ready for its annual Visit with Santa event and is seeking help from the community to try and make this year’s event an unforgettable experience for inner-city school children. Photo courtesy of The Shore Line Trolley Museum

The Shore Line Trolley Museum remains steadfast in its mission to offer affordable and educational experiences for local children. Photo courtesy of The Shore Line Trolley Museum

The Shore Line Trolley Museum is excited to announce the return of its annual Visit with Santa event, and the museum is seeking in-kind donations, sponsorships, and volunteers to help make this year’s holiday field trips an unforgettable experience for inner-city school children. In 2023, the event welcomed over 1,100 students and provided a magical trolley ride, an interactive visit with Santa, a gift, and holiday cheer at a nominal cost, making it accessible to families with limited means.

As the museum prepares for December, it is inviting local businesses, organizations, and individuals to help by donating goods or sponsoring the event. The museum is also in need of volunteers to assist with the field trips which provide a unique and joyful experience for students who may not otherwise have the chance to celebrate the holidays in this way.

The Shore Line Trolley Museum has a longstanding commitment to giving back to the community and creating programs which foster joy and connection. Throughout the year, the museum hosted numerous successful fundraising events for local nonprofits such as Havens Harvest, Project ACEESS New Haven, the Community Dining Room of Branford, Lumibility, and the Old Stone Church, exemplifying its dedication to serving the needs of the wider community and supporting causes which uplift the entire community.

In speaking about the museum’s mission, John Proto, executive director, reflected on the deeper meaning of these programs.

“In the same way that city trolley systems once united communities by bridging distance barriers, The Shore Line Trolley Museum is keeping that part of history alive by bringing our communities together,” Proto said. “This tradition of connection and unity helps to benefit our society, and events like Visit with Santa give us the opportunity to extend that spirit to the children who need it most.”

In addition to this holiday program, other affordable and educational trips like pumpkin patch trolley rides have provided schoolchildren with a memorable seasonal experience. This past summer, the Story Time Tuesday program, conducted in both English and Spanish, allowed children ages 3 to 7 to develop a love of reading and create their own personal take-home libraries. The program was designed to reach diverse audiences, reflecting the museum’s vision to make cultural and educational opportunities accessible to all.

“We are calling on the generosity of our community to help make this year’s Visit with Santa a big success,” said Proto. “Whether you can volunteer your time, donate supplies, or sponsor a school’s participation, your support will directly impact children from underresourced areas. Together, we can continue to offer these magical experiences to those who need them most.”

For more information on how to get involved or for corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact John Proto at 475-227-0001 or by email at director@shorelinetrolley.org. Direct contributions can be made online at shorelinetrolley.org/holiday or by mailing to 17 River Street, East Haven, CT 06512.

For more information, visit shorelinetrolley.org or @shorelinetrolleymusuem on social media.