DECEMBER 27, 2023 www.wintertexantimes.com 20 WINTER TEXAN TIMES Call today to schedule a free consultation and let us show you how professionally designed marketing materials with clear and consistent messaging can elevate your brand. You Only Get One Chance To Make A First Impression Make It Count With Promos & Prints On Your Side Sales@promosandprints.com (956) 580-7800 1217 N Conway Ave, Mission, TX A Division of Nexus Publishing LLC “I asked those people, ‘Did you not see the spirit of him here?’” she said. “…All the kids? All those smiles? That’s Tripp!” Maggie said that her husband’s goal was to reach more and more children. And she admitted that he would never be satisfied. “He wanted to be assured that every child got something for Christmas,” Maggie said. “And that all of them enjoyed a party designed especially for them.” She said she appreciated the work and effort everyone put in. “Tripp would have been so proud,” Maggie said. “He loved Christmas and felt every child deserved to love it, too.” She recognized that poverty and disabilities can make life difficult for kids. “Too often we knew that what we were doing for children were the only gifts they were going to get,” Maggie said. “So, Tripp joined the Elks feeling that this group was the perfect fit for his Christmas plan -- to reach as many disadvantaged children as humanly possible.” To Be an Elk Tino believed Tripp found the perfect organization for his goals and echoed Tripp’s sentiment. “I became ER for the children,” he said of his leadership role. “What gives me hope is that more and more people are starting to understand what being an Elk really is… That there’s a purpose to becoming a member.” According to Tino, it is crucial that members believe in charity. My belief is always: “It’s better to give than to receive.” The Exalted Ruler said that for him it’s truly a “blessing” to work on this event. Looking Toward a Fourth Year With the success of this year’s program, it doesn’t mean next year’s event will be easy, according to the organizers. Both Elks and Winter Texans recognize they will face challenges. Along with many planning isTRIPP From pg. 13 sues, Milly and Tino feel they must find transportation for children who can’t afford to get to McAllen’s Elks Lodge, along with trying to figure out ways to expand their facility to accommodate more children. And for them there’s always the task of raising funds to treat a larger number of children to activities and special gifts. Organizers and volunteers say that without a doubt their energy and dedication to making Tripp’s Christmas Village a success is a tribute to their friend, who loved “ho-ho-ho”- ing his way into each child’s heart. Despite a large crowd posing at the end of Tripp’s Christmas Village event, not everyone was in the photo. Many were still busy in the building including Exalted Ruler Tino Ordaz. It also doesn’t capture those who crocheted hats, sewed scrunchies, created plastic crayon boxes, donated money, and handled behindthe-scenes tasks crucial to the success of this program. (District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Milly Hernandez wears a Santa hat and is in the photo in front and to the right of the horizontal elf.)
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