Roanoke Rapids Mayor Emery Doughtie will be hosting a food drive and playing the role of Santa Claus Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park on Roanoke Avenue.

The donations of canned foods will be given to the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District for its Backpack Buddies program.

Doughtie said an anonymous donor has agreed to donate $5 for each food donation up to $1,000.

Called the A Merry Mayor Christmas, Doughtie is receiving assistance from his daughter Lauren as well as Jason Yeatts, pastor of East Tenth Street Christian Church. “He’s been instrumental in helping us,” the mayor said of the minister.

People are welcome to take pictures of their children with Santa.

Doughtie has played the role of Santa before but never in this form, he said. “I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to give to the community and help the school program. I benefited from it more than the children.”