Brookdale Hearthstone Christmas Parade delights seniors, children
Santa and Mrs. Claus make their entrance at the Brookdale Hearthstone Christmas parade Dec. 23.
JOEL MARTIN/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Local businesses and organizations entered floats in the Brookdale Hearthstone Christmas parade.
About 200 people, mostly children, swapped a pair of socks for a stocking to fill with candy at Brookdale Hearthstone Dec. 23.
MOSES LAKE — The spirit of Christmas paid a visit to Brookdale Hearthstone on Dec. 23, with a parade, a visit from Santa and lots and lots of candy for children.
“(Our residents) deserve the best,” said Brookdale Hearthstone Lifestyle Director Imelda Broyles. “And unfortunately, some of them don't drive. So we said, let's bring (Christmas) over here and start a new tradition.”
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care, exactly. Participants brought in a pair of socks to donate to Care Moses Lake, and in return received a stocking they could take around and collect candy.
“I don't know how many stockings we had, but I know it was well over 120 stockings and we ran out,” said Brookdale Hearthstone Living Sales Specialist Karisti Cox. “We had kids who had their stocking caps that they took off their heads and were using them.”
About 200 pairs of socks were collected, Broyles said.
Santa and Mrs. Claus led a parade of small floats through the halls of Brookdale Hearthstone into the dining room. The floats were made by residents and staff, and included cleverly-constructed gingerbread houses, a sleigh and Santa’s workshop. The Clauses settled into chairs with a sign reading “North Pole” and waved as the floats, staff and children filed through.
Many of the floats and displays came from local businesses and organizations that had partnered with Brookdale Hearthstone for the occasion.
“They wanted to support this cause,” Cox said. “They saw something great in it.”
The event drew support from the Kiwanis club, Big Bend Community College, Door to Door Moving, Assured Home Health and Hospice, Savoy Life, Cobie’s Dry Cleaning, the Moses Lake Police Department, Lowe’s, My Little Sunshine Childcare Center and Columbia Bank, according to Broyles.
“Our residents are incredibly happy and grateful,” Broyles wrote in a message to the Columbia Basin Herald. “For many of them, moments like this mean everything … This parade is about bringing joy to those who can no longer go out to see parades, creating connection, and reminding our residents how deeply valued and loved they are.”
Local businesses and organizations entered floats in the Brookdale Hearthstone Christmas parade.
About 200 people, mostly children, swapped a pair of socks for a stocking to fill with candy at Brookdale Hearthstone Dec. 23.