(L to r): Volunteers serving lunch; Norma Lanners and Julius Vega.
(L to r): Entertainers Larry and Irene Stephens.
Clown “Tiny” Robert Sherinian of Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley.
Dance floor with Elroy the Elk.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrival on the dance floor.
Special Guest Stephanie Saneff in line to see Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Christmas Gift Bags Awaiting Distribution.
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) hosted their annual Christmas Party for well over 200 special kids, special adults and their caretakers.
The “Special Guests”, aged seven (7) to over seventy (70) years old, arrived in wheel chairs, were assisted with walkers, held hands with their caretakers or entered the Elks Lodge under their own power. The guests were pampered by sixty-seven (67) Elks Lodge volunteers. During the volunteer-served lunch, ten (10) clowns in colorful attire and make-up from the Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley circulated among the tables. They entertained the guests with balloons, card tricks and other clown amusements. After lunch, the guests swarmed onto the dance floor. Guests danced by themselves, with each other and with Elks volunteers to Christmas songs, some light rock, the popular song “YMCA” and even the chicken dance. Entertainment was donated by Larry and Irene Stephens. A few guests sang Karaoke and Elroy the Elk (the Elks national anti-drug mascot) danced with many guests.
In the afternoon, Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival caused great excitement. After a walk around the dance floor, Santa and Mrs. Clause retired to an Elks Lodge room where all guests had an audience with them. Upon leaving their encounter with the famous holiday couple, each guest received a picture of their time with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a gift bag. Gifts in all of the gift bags were provided by the Elks Lodge members through its charity bingo operation and The Walt Disney Company, which provided Ratatouille DVDs, Tinker Bell pendants and other gifts.
Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino said, “Our Elks Lodge has held the annual special kids Christmas party for over thirty (30) years. We are pleased to be able to hold an event during the Christmas season that is so obviously enjoyed by so many guests. Thank you to the volunteers supporting the event, Larry and Irene Stephens for donating their entertainment, the Laguna Woods Senior Clown Alley, Elroy the Elk (Paul Shilor) and a very special thank you to The Walt Disney Company for their gifts.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty (40) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, is one of ten lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 142 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
