ALAMOSA — The BPOE Elks 1297 Kids Place party Nov. 9 helped 27 families with a total of 35 children in foster and special care. Organizer Deanna Wagner said, “Everyone had a super fun time playing bingo and winning prizes.” Every child was entered into a drawing and when his or her name was picked, an unwrapped gift was chosen. Wagner said each gift was educational and fun. The guardians went home with gift cards. Special gifts were awarded to bingo winners. Wagner said all this was thanks to the Elks National Foundation and a Beacon Grant. Beacon Grants offer Elks an opportunity to engage a local community by actively serving those in need and the local lodge is hoping to do more with Kids Place in the future.

Mary Hennessey, center, whose work gave birth to A Kid’s Place, listens during a special party sponsored by BPOE 1297 for children in foster and special care Nov. 9 at the Alamosa Elks Lodge.

This colorful cake says it all: "Because you're worth it!"