Children with special needs met with Caring Santa at Quaker Bridge Mall with no lines, crowds or music.
LAWRENCE -- Early Sunday, while many were still nestled in their beds, "Caring Santa" arrived to Quaker Bridge Mall to meet children with special needs, without lines or typical mall crowds.
Nonprofit Autism Speaks and online resource center AbilityPath.org organized Caring Santa with Simon Property Group, the mall's owner, from at 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., before the mall opened.
Caring Santa was located in the center of Quaker Bridge Mall in Lawrenceville from 8 - 10 a.m.The event featured no music, lines or crowds.
"Caring for Santa is a day for children with special needs to take their pictures in a non-hostile environment making them more at ease," said volunteer Warren Schaeffer of Autism Speaks of N.J.
Schaeffer said this was the third Carins Santa at Quaker Bridge.
The special Santa Simon "Caring Santa" events started in 2011 at only seven malls but since has expanded to more than 100 malls nationwide, according
to a release sent out by Simon.
"I love doing this because it makes the kids smile," he said.
Louise Martel said she brought her 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - who has Autism - to Sunday's event because she enjoys seeing Santa each year and having no lines and crowds makes it less intimidating.
"She loves him, she's been coming to Santa since she was a baby," Martel said.
In addition to taking pictures with Santa, children were able to hear holiday stories and participate in activities such as coloring.
Santa also took Christmas list requests from children at a West Windsor Lions Club pancake breakfast, at Community Middle School in Plainsboro.
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.