TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. — A church in the Town of Tonawanda is inviting neighbors to join the Journey to Christmas.

St. Amelia Parish on Eggert Road kicked off the advent season with local families Sunday night.

The church hosted a free drive-thru event in its parking lot allowing people to visit a series of advent stations.

At each station visitors received an advent calendar, had their children blessed by priests, and donated canned goods for St. Vincent De Paul's Food Pantry.

“It's so refreshing to see all the people who are coming here tonight just to get out of the house and do something that is safe and free and help those that are more needy than they are and just enjoy an evening with the family, so it's a great way to kick off advent and it’s a great to end your Thanksgiving weekend as a family,” said Scott Kapperman, St. Amelia school principal.

The Journey to Christmas event ended with cars passing through the lane of lights and of course, paying a quick visit to Santa Claus.