TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

A Party That Makes Rudolph Proud

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOHN CEBALLOS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

Updated: 12/10/2007 06:45 pm

WIMAUMA - Christmas came a few weeks early this year for a group of children in Wimauma.

Fifty-two prekindergarten and kindergarten students at the Redlands Christian Migrant Association academy in Wimauma attended a holiday party in their honor from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The migrant group provides child care for migrant and rural children throughout the state.

The event was hosted by Little Manatee Springs, a manufactured home park for residents 55 and older, which is across the street from the school.

"It's definitely one of the highlights of the year for us here," said Cindy Ploof, Little Manatee Springs chairwoman. "There are a lot of hard-working people each year who try to make it as entertaining and exciting as we can."

This is the seventh year Little Manatee Springs has organized the Christmas party, but their collaboration with the school began as a celebration of a different holiday.

"Originally, we started off by throwing the kids a Halloween party," said Gertie Tyler who, along with fellow Little Manatee Springs residents Mary Keller and Belva Snyder, organized the first special event for the academy's children. "For a little while, we did a Halloween and a Christmas party, and we included first- through third-graders.

"A few years ago we decided to scale back and just do a Christmas party for the younger kids - the ones who really still believe in Santa Claus the most."

The kids were transported to Little Manatee Springs by bus. As soon as they crossed the main gate, the students were met by volunteers and presented with headdresses representing this year's theme - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

"We try to switch it up each year," Ploof said. "One year we had a snow theme with the kids playing with cotton balls and ice cubes, and this year it's Rudolph."

They were then taken by a fleet of golf carts to the clubhouse, where various Christmas-themed games and activities awaited them.
Ploof read the children a couple of Christmas stories - "Santa's Suit" and, of course, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - followed by lunch courtesy of Outback Steakhouse.

"We've always had Little Manatee residents donate money toward the gifts," Ploff said. "In recent years, we've started getting help from outside sources, including Outback and Publix, which donated a gift card so we could buy materials for the party."

Shortly after lunch, the kids received a visit from Santa Claus -as portrayed by Little Manatee Springs' Andy Mendez - who handed out presents.

Each boy received a Hot Wheels car, and each girl received a Barbie doll. The Little Manatee Springs Quilt Club also made totes filled with school supplies.

Toward the end, the students returned the favor by performing several Christmas songs for their hosts in Spanish.

"A lot of us have kids and grandkids that we don't get to see that often, and that we miss," Snyder said. "I think a lot of us have almost as much fun as the kids."

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT