The Rio Verde Fire District and VerdeCares provided the holiday spirit to welcome visitors for fun, prizes and buttermilk pancakes at the annual pancake breakfast Saturday, Dec. 7.

Hosting the breakfast were volunteers with VerdeCares, Inc., a volunteer driven 501(c)3 nonprofit based in the Verdes. VerdeCares provides no charge services to lower Verde Valley residents.

The Rio Verde Fire District and Sanderson Ford also partnered with the benefit breakfast to launch an official location for “Operation Santa Claus.” Visitors brought new toys, new children’s clothing and packaged non-perishable food items that allowed them to be entered into Sanderson’s drawing for a new vehicle to be held later.

Santa was there to hand out gifts and chat with young visitors.

“We appreciate our firefighters’ support. VerdeCares volunteers are an awesome asset to our neighbors,” VerdeCares founder, Vicki Beseke, said, “Whether we are providing transportation, meals, help with grocery shopping, family respite and more, our goal is to be here for our neighbors when they need us.

“Keeping pace with the rapid changes in the healthcare industry, our care management services provide support from hospital admission to home self-sufficiency.”

VerdeCares was the beneficiary of donations visitors made for the free breakfast meal.