Submitted photo A group of Seneca Trail Lodge FOP members gather to begin wrapping Christmas gifts for this year’s Christmas Party, set for Saturday at the Phil Gainer Community Center. More than 300 children from Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Grant, Pocahontas and Pendleton counties have been invited to the event.

Editor’s Note: This is the second article in a series highlighting local charitable efforts during the holiday season.

ELKINS — The Seneca Trail Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police continues to raise the bar each December when it comes to hosting its annual Christmas Party for children.

Each year, youngsters from Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Grant, Pocahontas and Pendleton counties are given a gift of their choice and treated to a party that consists of bouncy houses, games, food, and a visit from Santa Claus.

In 2023, Lodge No. 104 hosted 150 children and spent $18,000 on gifts and the party. Last year the FOP distributed toys to 250 children and spent more than $30,000 on the event. More than 300 children have been invited to this year’s party and the Lodge has spent close to $50,000 on this year’s event.

“We have 325 confirmed children coming to this year’s party,” said FOP Seneca Trail Treasurer Brian Kilgore. “When it’s all said and done this year, we are going to be spending close to $50,000 on toys and the party. Last year we were just shy of spending $38,000 on the event.”

Kilgore said in addition to the Christmas Party, part of the money donated will go to assist three additional community organizations that the Lodge has selected this holiday season. Those three organizations are Community in Schools, Right from the Start, and an addiction recovery program.

“All of those organizations deal with children and families, so we are very happy that we have the fund to help them as well,” Kilgore said.

He added that without the community’s support, the Christmas Party would not be what it is today.

“We went from 100 kids two years ago to 300 this year, plus being able to help out those other three organizations,” said Kilgore. “We struggled a little bit in 2023 and spent everything we had but $84. I can’t say enough about how the community has stepped up and helped us out with this event. We live in a good community.”

Kilgore said funds for the Christmas Party comes entirely from donations. Money raised from other fundraisers throughout the year go toward various programs and organizations like Little League baseball.

“In 2023, the FOP spent a little under $38,000 at Christmas,” Kilgore said. “But we donated $44,444 back to the community that year from our Lodge in Elkins. We are community based and we want to give back, that’s why we do this. This Christmas Party is a blessing for us and it’s a blessing for the kids that come.”

Kilgore said there’s a lot planned for the party, which will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Phil Gainer Community Center.

“We have increased our activities this year, I think we are going to have three people doing face painting for the kids,” he said. “We will have arts and crafts, Santa Claus, the Grinch, and many other things for kids to do. I can’t speak enough for the Elkins Walmart, they are huge in assisting us with the party, they are donating our food along with Subway. This Christmas Party is bigger than the FOP, the community allows us to host this. Because without them, there would be no Christmas Party.”

Kilgore said members of the Seneca Trail Lodge FOP reach out to school counselors in all of the aforementioned counties to compile a list of children for the Christmas Party. The organization will also give out winter gloves and hats to the children during the party.

“We call every family and speak to every parent and ask them what they’re children’s interests are,” Kilgore said. “The FOP members then go to the store and shop before we get together and wrap all of the gifts.”