BRADENTON – Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge #2188 and Bradenton Moose Lodge #1223 teamed up to bring holiday joy to area children on Dec. 14.
As was the case with the AMI lodge’s annual kid’s Halloween party, the Christmas party was again held at the Bradenton lodge because lodge #2188 in Bradenton Beach suffered significant damage during hurricanes Helene and Milton and remains closed for the foreseeable future.
The lodges also joined forces for the 2023 kids’ Halloween party while the AMI lodge’s dining room floor was being replaced.
42 children attended Saturday’s party. Upon arrival, each child was asked to guess the number of candies contained in a tumbler sitting on the table. Malcolm Riti hit it right on the head when he guessed 30 pieces. The kids also received gingerbread-themed stickers and sticker sheets. They were treated to a breakfast of French toast sticks before Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer arrived, which led to the children singing Rudolph’s theme song.
Before Santa arrived, AMI lodge member and event volunteer Sandra Zenzel read aloud “ ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The kids were then asked to sing “Here’s Comes Santa Claus” to greet Santa as he and Mrs. Claus arrived. After taking his seat, Santa visited with the children and each child received a gift selected specifically for them.
As the festivities wound down, AMI lodge Administrator Byron Dalton noted the annual children’s parties are part of the Moose organization’s mission to serve the community. Dalton expressed appreciation for the Bradenton lodge’s partnership and the teamwork shared with lodge administrator Wanda Ayers. Ayers tended bar during Saturday’s party and served Bloody Marys and other adult beverages to some of the parents and grandparents in attendance.
Regarding the damaged lodge in Bradenton Beach, Dalton said the plan is to soon wall off the south end of the lodge so the social quarters (the bar area) and the upper deck can be used while waiting for the dining room to later be restored or reconstructed.
