Santa participated in the Zelienople Fourth of July parade this year to promote the Miracle on Main Street campaign. The event, slated for 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6, celebrates a business community effort to help families living in the Zelienople and Harmony ZIP codes.

ZELIENOPLE — Last year, organizers of the Miracle on Main Street campaign hoped to help one family in need during the Christmas season.

Thanks to donations from customers and borough businesses, they ended up helping 13.

This year, organizers are hoping the Zelienople business community can come together to help more people than ever.

The idea for Miracle on Main Street came to fruition last year, as Roach & Ziegler Interiors planned to give away a new, six-piece living room furniture set to a single mother in the Zelienople area. However, once word got out, people started chipping in.

Donna Ziegler said “an anonymous plumber” donated $2,000, and clients were donating hundreds of dollars to the cause, with 13 mothers being helped at the end.

This year, Ziegler said the focus will be on providing help to any family in need living in the Zelienople and Harmony ZIP codes. She said application forms are available at Roach & Ziegler, and she encourages those who know of a worthy family to nominate them. Winners will be chosen by a group of pastors in Zelienople.

The announcement of the winners will coincide with the Miracle on Main Street celebration, slated for 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6. A collaboration of businesses in the downtown area, the event will see each business doing a charitable gathering of their own.

According to Matthew Edwards, administrator for the Zelienople Business Association, those causes include coat drives and donations for local food pantries.

“It turned into a nice giving and charity event,” he said.

There also is plenty of fun to be had during the evening. Stores will offer cookies and treats, and entertainment will include a live Nativity scene, reindeer, fire dancers, a parade and music performances.