BRAWLEY — When Mitzel Martinez opens her gifts on Christmas morning, she is hoping a kitten, cell phone and chocolate cake await her.
“I hope the kitty is orange and white,” said Mitzel, an 11-year-old Brawley resident.
To ensure her orange and white kitten arrives by Dec. 25, Mitzel had the opportunity to put in a request with the man in red himself in front of the Elks Lodge here Saturday afternoon.
“Santa was cool,” Mitzel said. “I’m glad my mom brought me. I’m excited to eat cookies now.”
As Mitzel and her siblings took turns sitting on Santa’s lap, other children enjoyed the hot chocolate, candy canes and cookies courtesy of the Brawley Soroptimists, the Lions Club and the Elks Lodge.
“I think it’s great that they are doing this for the community,” said Brawley resident Stefanie Campos. “We heard about it through the Boy Scouts so we decided to come and check it out. My son loves the hot chocolate so he’s happy.”
Elks Past Exalted Ruler Amanda Barraza said after hosting Christmas parties for members of the Elks Lodge, members decided to branch out to the greater community.
“It’s hard for people to go all the way to the (Imperial Valley) Mall to meet Santa,” Barraza said. “We thought it would be nice to bring something to the community.”
After hearing the excited squeals of children, Barraza said she hopes to bring Santa back next year.
“This is the first year that we’ve tried something like this,” she said. “I’m thinking we’ll have to do this from now on because the kids love it.”
Staff Writer Karina Lopez can be reached at 760-337-3439 or klopez@ivpressonline.com
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