The holidays are right around the corner, and children are more excited than ever to meet Santa Claus. Every year, Parkers’ Lighthouse organizes a breakfast for the patients of MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Long Beach, and the young children and families of the Long Beach community, where they can fulfill their dream of meeting Santa Claus.
This tradition has been around for nearly 20 years. With COVID-19 disrupting the tradition, the break has given time for Parkers’ Lighthouse to prepare to gather and connect everyone once again. Each year, Santa cruises into the Long Beach Harbor on a yacht from Spirit Cruises and greets the children of the community as he prepares to share a special breakfast with them. In previous years, children would line up to sit on Santa’s lap to tell him their wish list and convince him that they were on the nice list. Recently, Santa has been making rounds throughout the restaurant, stopping by every table and meeting with children and families to listen to lists and take pictures.
While the community may think they’re giving a gift to their families with this unique breakfast, they are helping the patients of Miller Children’s & Women’s as well. One hundred percent of the proceeds of this wonderful breakfast go to the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. Generous Parkers’ staff come in to serve the families in attendance at the event. In addition, Parkers’ Lighthouse supports kids hospitalized during the holidays by bringing unwrapped gifts and writing heartfelt letters for the Child Life Program to distribute.
“Parkers’ Lighthouse has been a long-time supporter of the patients of Miller Children’s & Women’s, especially during the holidays” says Rita Goshert, director, Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Program, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. “We are so grateful for their years of friendship, generosity, and the love and support that everyone on the Parkers’ team shows our families on this special day."
