Walnutport VFW hosts annual kids’ Christmas party

It may have been a Saturday afternoon, but it felt like Christmas morning at the R.W. Fritzinger VFW Post 7215 Auxiliary’s 15th annual Kids’ Christmas Party in Walnutport.

Gold tinsel dangled from the ceiling, presents were wrapped with care and families of the post gathered together to open presents, share a meal and enjoy a little bit of the Christmas spirit.

“It just means a lot to me (seeing) the smiles on the faces of these kids when they receive their gifts,” Karen Bandzi, auxiliary president, said. “It’s just stuff we love doing.”

The post was closed this year, Bandzi said, so donations for the presents couldn’t be collected as they had in the past. But thanks to the generosity of post members, and help from another local organization, the post was able to buy gifts for 20 children.

“We couldn’t rely on donations that we normally receive from members of the post,” Bandzi said. “So the auxiliary went out and did everything, with some help of the Slatington Lions Club. “It actually didn’t take much, because we knew we had to it, and we only had a few days to get it done for the kids.”

If the children’s reactions were any indication, their efforts were more than worth it.

Before the presents were handed out, kids were circling the gift table, pointing excitedly when they found the pile bearing their name.

After the presents were distributed, the room was filled with the sounds of tearing paper, boisterous laughter and enthusiastic shrills. About half an hour into the party, Old Saint Nick arrived, sparking even more commotion.

Bodie Reiss, 6, of Palmerton, was one the first in line to sit on Santa’s lap. And what was on the top of his list? A Thermos.

“My (grandfather) has a Thermos and I really want one,” Reiss said.

Reese Mankos, 7, of Slatington, said he wants new clothes for school.

Unlike most kids, Mankos isn’t that excited to be on Christmas vacation. In fact, he’s counting down the hours until school starts again.

Jennifer Shimer, of Nazareth, brought her three children to the Christmas party.

Their grandfather, Bruce Jones, has been a member of the post for around 50 years.

Sailor Lee, Shimer’s newborn daughter nearing 2 months old, attended the Christmas party for the first time.

“We’ve been coming here since she was a baby,” Shimer said, gesturing toward her oldest daughter Lexey, who’s going on 13. “It’s like a tradition in our family. We do it every year.”