Winnipeg Beach children were the special guests at Christmas party
The Winnipeg Beach Ladies Auxiliary, the Winnipeg Beach Legion Branch #61 members, and the Lakeside Lions Club held a two-day Christmas event for the Winnipeg Beach school students at the Legion on Dec. 10 and 11.
Students enjoyed a macaroni and cheese lunch, a hot dog, a drink, and a cookie. Special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped in for a visit, and every child received a knitted pair of mitts and a toque, thanks to the tireless efforts of the many volunteers and groups involved.
Legion President Lorraine Andrushuk said this is the fourth year for this event and that Kindergarten to grade 8 students could all participate on three separate occasions throughout the two days in coordination with the school and the respective groups involved.
“It has been a very busy time for us,” said Andrushuk. Many women from the area along with the Ladies Auxiliary and the Gimli Hospital Auxiliary knitted all of the mitts, and the toques were all purchased for the students. Andrushuks’ grandson Jordan cooked the meals for the Monday gathering, while Andrushuk cooked on the Tuesday.
“Nadia made, and hand painted all of the cookies,” Andrushuk said of Nadia Hanesiak, the Winnipeg Beach Ladies Auxiliary President and Winnipeg Beach Legion member.
Lisa Boyer, Vice-President of the Lakeside Lions Club, added that the Lions Club donated money to the cause last year but had decided they wanted to do more this year. They donated $250 and six members volunteered for the event.
Andrushuk also offered that the Legion provided 176 meals for the Lodge, Villa, Vets, Deceased Veterans’ wives, and all ‘shut-ins” this week. The Winnipeg Beach Fire Dept. donated $1,000 towards the effort. The Firemen and other volunteers delivered Christmas meals to the recipients this past week, reaching as far as Winnipeg for those Veterans who had to move to the city due to illness. The Town of Winnipeg Beach also donated $500 towards the events.
The Legion is a non-profit organization that completely relies on donations, memberships, volunteers and grants to operate and do the wonderful things they do for the community. Meat draws, once a popular and fantastic fundraising event, have since been cancelled due to the high costs of the meat itself, and the Legion is finding itself relying more and more on donations than ever before. Pancake breakfasts are run to aid in the day-to-day operational costs. However, these costs are also rising, Andrushuk noted.
“As long as we can continue to serve the community, we are all happy”.
Express Photos by Rayme Thomson
