Cruise Night for Kids holds last Christmas party

Andrews – After 16 years, Andrews Cruise Night for the Kids has held its last community Christmas party.

Only two months ago, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit announced at its annual Cruise Night & Car Show that it would be the last event due to a lack of volunteers and community involvement.

As promised then, the community Christmas party at the Andrews Community Center delivered an astounding amount of toys for area children. Freshly cooked hot dogs meals with chips and dessert cakes were offered, along with tickets for the kids to get one large item toy, such as stuffed animals, and four more items ranging from smaller toys to toothbrushes and DVDs.

“The community really stepped up to make this last party special,” Barbara El-Khouri said. “We had so many donations, people were even leaving toys on my porch. And we were able to purchase so many toys as well.”

While smiling bitter-sweetly, Susie Bryant said the Dec. 7 party was one to remember, with the organization serving more than 400 people this year.

“Each year we hope it reaches more and more families in the community,” she said. “We’re just glad to see this last one as a kind of record.”

Bryant recruits her whole family to pitch in, as husband Mike cooked the hot dogs along with other members of the group, while her sons manned the meal bag table and offered drinks to every attendee. She also has some real pull with a guy from a cold snowy place, as her brother-in-law portrays Santa every year.

The crowded center also took on a very North Pole feel with appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus, otherwise known as Tony and Kelly Bryant in what have become their annual roles. Also in attendance this year Buddy the Elf, as portrayed by the Bryants’ daughter, who guided little ones onto the stage, where they received stockings and Santa hats.

Fresh off appearing in Saturday’s Andrews Christmas parade, Susie Bryant said many of the group also brought their cars to the town’s parade for one last cruise.

“I’m not sure how many were in, because I was the lead car with my Smart car, but we had a good turnout for the parade. Everyone’s sad it’s through, but we had a good 16 years,” she said.

“We’ve done the Christmas party since 2000, so that’s 23 years of giving back to Andrews and the kids. We’re seeing kids who came here bring their own now.”

Heads were nodding in a sense of acknowledged sadness, but ultimately those squeals of joy when the toys were grabbed and shrieks of play when all the littles got their picture made with Santa were enough to buoy everyone’s spirits for the season.