By Debbie Adams
Members of the Vinton Moose Lodge and the Sassy Sisters of the Moose treated over 100 Roanoke County special education students in grades K-12 to Breakfast with Santa in their banquet hall on Dec. 2. This has been an annual event (except during the COVID years) since 1999.
The men of the Vinton Moose Lodge Family Center # 1121 cooked pancakes and sausage, which were then served up by the Sassy Sisters.
Students from Cave Spring, Glenvar, and William Byrd High Schools were in attendance along with Cave Spring, Glenvar, Northside, and Hidden Valley Middle Schools. Elementary students came from Glenvar, Herman L. Horn, Mount Pleasant, Penn Forest, and Oak Grove. Teachers, instructional assistants, special education administrators, and bus drivers were also invited to the event.
Roanoke County Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services Beth Harman said the event was not only fun for the students, but a great way to improve social skills, communication skills, and independent living skills. Many of those students attending are in the FAACTS (Functional Academic Accessibility and Career Transition Skills) program or PEAP (Pre-Elementary Autism Program) classes.
Breakfast with Santa is just one of the many community service events the Moose sponsor each year. Organized initially as a social club in the late 1800’s, Moose International reorganized early in the 20th century with one of their main goals being caring for children and families in need across North America.
The Vinton Moose Lodge # 1121 is located on Washington Avenue.