Santa brings big check to Square One daycare

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Santa visited Square One's King Street daycare facility on Thursday morning to drop off a $25,000 check.

The Picknelly Family Foundation and Penn National Gaming teamed up to present the gift Thursday to help the daycare get back on its feet, after their Chestnut Street facility was destroyed in the November 23 gas explosion.

Santa drove to the daycare in a Peter Pan double decker bus and read to some kids before presenting the check.

98 children were placed in the 3 other Square One daycare centers after the explosion.

Square One has had a difficult two years, as their Main Street daycare in the South End was heavily damaged in the tornado of June 1, 2011.

Penn National Gaming and Peter Picknelly want to develop a resort style casino in the North End of Springfield, on land that includes the Peter Pan Bus terminal and The Republican's building.