Longboat Island Chapel busy with holiday blessings

LONGBOAT KEY -- Christmas bears are no longer bare thanks to members of the Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico.

Supplied by the Bradenton Salvation Army, the bears were given to chapel members to dress before distributing to needy children in Manatee County. Each bear was adopted by church volunteers and outfitted to help enhance the Christmas gift for these children.

The chapel also took part in the annual Angel Tree Christmas project sponsored by the Salvation Army. More than 100 volunteers from Longboat Island Chapel donated Christmas gifts to children selected by the Salvation Army according to their needs in Manatee County. The gifts will be distributed through the Salvation Army.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Longboat Island Chapel busy with holiday blessings ."