Brookdale Hearthstone Christmas Parade delights seniors, children
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 3 weeks AGO
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | January 7, 2026 3:00 AM
MOSES LAKE — The spirit of Christmas paid a visit to Brookdale Hearthstone on Dec. 23, with a parade, a visit from Santa and lots and lots of candy for children.
“(Our residents) deserve the best,” said Brookdale Hearthstone Lifestyle Director Imelda Broyles. “And unfortunately, some of them don't drive. So we said, let's bring (Christmas) over here and start a new tradition.”
The stockings weren’t hung by the chimney with care, exactly. Participants brought in a pair of socks to donate to Care Moses Lake, and in return received a stocking they could take around and collect candy.
“I don't know how many stockings we had, but I know it was well over 120 stockings and we ran out,” said Brookdale Hearthstone Living Sales Specialist Karisti Cox. “We had kids who had their stocking caps that they took off their heads and were using them.”
About 200 pairs of socks were collected, Broyles said.
Santa and Mrs. Claus led a parade of small floats through the halls of Brookdale Hearthstone into the dining room. The floats were made by residents and staff, and included cleverly-constructed gingerbread houses, a sleigh and Santa’s workshop. The Clauses settled into chairs with a sign reading “North Pole” and waved as the floats, staff and children filed through.
Many of the floats and displays came from local businesses and organizations that had partnered with Brookdale Hearthstone for the occasion.
“They wanted to support this cause,” Cox said. “They saw something great in it.”
The event drew support from the Kiwanis club, Big Bend Community College, Door to Door Moving, Assured Home Health and Hospice, Savoy Life, Cobie’s Dry Cleaning, the Moses Lake Police Department, Lowe’s, My Little Sunshine Childcare Center and Columbia Bank, according to Broyles.
“Our residents are incredibly happy and grateful,” Broyles wrote in a message to the Columbia Basin Herald. “For many of them, moments like this mean everything … This parade is about bringing joy to those who can no longer go out to see parades, creating connection, and reminding our residents how deeply valued and loved they are.”
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Space Burger booth open March 13-15
MOSES LAKE — Those who can’t wait for the Grant County Fair can get their Space Burger fix next weekend, according to an announcement from the Lioness Club of Moses Lake. The iconic Grant County sandwiches will be available at the Grant County Fairgrounds March 13-15, according to the announcement. There is no admission fee to get into the fairgrounds that weekend.
SENIOR EVENTS: March 2026
COLUMBIA BASIN — Plays, art shows, auctions and more await seniors in the Columbia Basin this month. Here are some opportunities to get out and about in March.
Valentine’s Day cards flood Brookdale Hearthstone with love
MOSES LAKE — Residents at Brookdale Hearthstone Assisted Living in Moses Lake got Valentine’s Day greetings from across the country last month. “I believe that the only states we have not received (cards from) yet are Vermont and Maine,” Lifestyle Director Imelda Broyles said Feb. 24. “We keep receiving new cards every single day. They have not stopped. My residents are in awe with every single one of the cards that we’ve been receiving.” The Hearts Across America project started as a way for children in school classrooms to exchange Valentine’s Day cards with classes in other states or even countries, but the idea has expanded to senior living facilities, according to the project’s social media.

