Several churches in Westport teamed up to host a Christmas party for those spending the holiday without their families.

The party at the Westport Senior Center featured plenty of food, festive music and a visit from Santa Claus.

"Not everyone has a family to be with on Christmas Day," said First Selectman Jim Marpe. "Quite frankly, Christmas can be a lonely time for a lot of people. It's a great opportunity to reach out to neighbors and making them feel part of a welcoming community."

The Westport churches that hosted the event included Saugatuck Congregational, United Methodist and the Unitarian. Temple Israel also took part in the reception.