Norwich — Santa Claus is coming to the Norwich Recreation Department/Youth and Family Services headquarters Friday afternoon to greet families driving by and take letters from children.

Santa will be outside the building at 75 Mohegan Road from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday for families who wish to give Santa a socially distanced greeting in his vantage point in the bed of a decorated pickup truck.

Officers from the Norwich Police Department’s Community Policing Unit will be at the event spreading some holiday cheer. Kids will have the opportunity to drop a letter off in the Letters to Santa Mailbox provided by the Recreation Department.

“We just wanted to have an event that could bring fun and excitement to the children in the community during a season that is unlike years past,” said Erin Haggan, coordinator of Norwich Youth and Family Services.

Jacqui Hatlee, Norwich resident and mom of three, appreciates the event.

“Norwich Youth and Family Services is always thinking of ways to help the community,” Hatlee said in a news release announcing the program. “With the pandemic, my kids were not going to get their annual visit with Santa, but now we can drive by so they can say ‘hi’ and remain safe. I am so thankful to NYFS for always keeping kids first.”

For more information, contact NYFS at (860) 823-3782 or visit its Facebook page, https://bit.ly/nyfsfb.