A Very Surrey Christmas

The fourth annual A Very Surrey Christmas Parade and Celebration took place Dec. 12, bringing out smiles, Christmas decorations and lots of fun.

With Ceeja (pronounced C.J.) Malmkar as organizer extraordinaire again, the parade began in the Surrey Hills Golf and Country Club parking lot, 11340 Surrey Hills Boulevard in Yukon, snaked its way through the addition, and ended back at the club house. Always held the second Sunday prior to Christmas, the event again included a Christmas party in the clubhouse after the parade.

Malmkar said, "The parade idea started because a few of us in the neighborhood just wanted to gather together, and create relationships in the neighborhood the way neighborhoods used to be. Our church, Grace Communion Church, got involved. And the parade grew. Surrey Hills is a golf community. So we decided people could decorate their golf carts, cars, or whatever they want, to be in the parade. We had over 20 in the parade this year. We did the parade on zero budget this year because Mike Love, one of the Surrey Hills Golf and Country Club owners, donated the use of the clubhouse for the party after the parade."

All free to the community, the party included time with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and cookies and hot chocolate. Local businesses A Latte Love and Grounds for Compassion provided party items. Surrey Hills Lions Club members served the treats to those who attended.

In tandem with the parade each year, Malmkar and Surrey Hills residents provide gifts for children in the neighborhood whose families can't afford gifts. Several years ago, Malmkar realized a family in the neighborhood could not provide Christmas gifts for all their children. And she thought if there is one family in need, there must be others.

"The first year, we put it on social media, and we collected gifts for 40 kids in Surrey Hills. The second year, we collected gifts for 56 kids. This is the third year we've collected gifts. I put it out there on the Facebook page Surrey Hills Neighbors, and we filled gift requests for 71 children within 24 hours."

This year the Surrey Hills Lions Club members provided $300 in gift cards from places like Walmart and Target to make up for any discrepancies in gift situations. The Grinch will deliver the gifts to the family homes a week prior to Christmas. "This is what happens when a

"This is what happens when a neighborhood and community come together as neighbors," Malmkar said. "And it doesn't have to cost a ton of money."

Malmkar's next project blasts off in February, when she will again organize her annual Love Food Drive. Food will be collected for Manna Pantry and residents at Surrey Hills Estates, an apartment unit for seniors age 62 and above, located at 11300 Surrey Hills Boulevard.