Slatington Moose Lodge 1375 is gearing up for a milestone celebration.

The organization will celebrate its 95th anniversary with a block party from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

It will be held rain or shine, according to Deb Kresge, treasurer, who also serves on the activities committee.

Kresge said it will feature food trucks, vendors, a basket raffle and 50/50 drawing.

In addition, she said they have a 95th anniversary raffle for which they have been selling tickets that also will be available the day of the block party. The prizes include a Z Grill Pellet Grill and Meat Package as the top prize and other meat and seafood packages, gift cards and cash.

Kresge said there will be live music featuring Ruffian from noon to 3 p.m. and The Buzz Band from 4 to 7 p.m.

She said the activities committee met to discuss how to celebrate a major milestone in the beginning of this year.

“The Moose had a couple of prior events that included food trucks, vendors and music and they were perceived well by the community and the members,” Kresge said. “This type of event is for the community, and helps to showcase the Moose organization and to visit our facility on what we offer.”

Kresge explained what the event means to the organization.

“Many members today had family members who were members in the past,” said Kresge, who noted that her parents, David and Donna Hinkle, were active members who participated in community events, fundraisers and activities for the members. “It is like keeping the tradition alive and a spot in our community where residents of Slatington and surrounding areas can come and socialize.”

Kresge said that the Moose itself, which is headquartered in Mooseheart, Illinois, has roots tracing back to 1888.

She said that the Moose in Slatington was chartered on Feb. 21, 1930.

“I’m sure the early members who established the Slatington Moose saw the formation as an opportunity to gather socially, to care for one another’s needs and celebrate life together,” Kresge said. “Since the early years, our fraternal organization has strived through many changes in Slatington.

“We want to celebrate this resilience to change. The Moose organization represents something bigger than just a social establishment but a bigger meaning that not all residents may know.”

Kresge said that since the early years, the fraternal Moose organization rapidly expanded to include valuable service to communities, care for children and teens in need at Mooseheart Child City & School, a 1,000 acre campus located 40 miles west of Chicago, and care for senior members at Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville, Florida.

“We represent a membership fraternal organization of over 1 million members with a presence in over 1,500 communicates across all 50 states and in four provinces in Canada plus Great Britain,” she said. “The Slatington Moose and its members help to support and contribute to the Moose charities.”

Kresge added that the Moose organization contributes between $75 to $100 million worth of community service (counting monetary donations, volunteer hours worked and miles driven) annually.

“In our local lodge, you will find a wide array of activities to participate in both as an individual and as a family,” she said. “From holiday parties, dances, sports, themed dinners and live entertainment, the Moose has much to offer.”

Kresge said that membership can mean different things to different people.

“I remember coming to the Moose as a family to Christmas parties for the kids, and even shopped with my dad to purchase the gifts,” she said. “Just to have a membership of this magnitude within our community and know we are helping to make a difference.

“The Moose is about celebrating life together, severing those in need in our local community, supporting our children at Mooseheart and standing by our senior members at Moosehaven. The Slatington Moose has supported many other nonprofit organizations in the community by monetary support through fundraisers or partnering with an event.”

For more information on Slatington Moose Lodge 1375, follow it on Facebook.

For more information on Moose International, visit mooseintl.org