Who doesn’t know that good food and fun are essential ingredients for a happy family? For the last 15 years we at the Chiles Group have been serving more than just great food at our beachfront restaurants on the Island. We have also been faithfully serving families in Manatee County by sponsoring the annual Lawton Chiles Christmas Party held at the Sandbar Restaurant on Anna Maria Island in support of the Manatee County Head Start Program and Healthy Families of Manatee, two programs whose mission it is to promote healthy families and to foster individual growth and development in parents and their children.
Thankfully there were many volunteers who worked long and hard to make the day special for the kids and their parents - organizing, shopping, and wrapping, as well as setting up, dressing up, and teaming up to serve our community with lots of love, support, and Christmas cheer. There were fun and games stationed all about while familiar characters like the Cat in the Hat, Sponge Bob, and Spiderman weaved in and out of the crowd, delighting both children and parents alike.
The Annual Chiles Group Christmas Party, however, is not only about amusement. It is also about encouraging the personal growth and development of both parents and children in a fun-loving atmosphere. Craft corners, face-painting, treasure hunting, and pond-fishing facilitate creativity, self-expression, and working toward a goal – all within a family and community-oriented environment.
At the end of the festivities, there was the feast! The tables were cleared and elves served up what the Sandbar and our other Anna Maria Beachfront Restaurants are famous for providing – lip-smacking, finger-licking tasty food. And of course, what is a Christmas party for kids without the appearance of the guest of honor? Santa himself showed up at the end, taking his center seat in the gazebo and passing out gift bags to all of the kids. And to top it all off, each family left the party with a gift basket filled with turkey and all the trimmings.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our annual Lawton Chiles Christmas Party a great success!
You must log in to post a comment.