The Magic of Giving

While the wind was blowing and the rain was falling, over 250 children and more than 150 families smiled, laughed, played games, made Christmas ornaments and enjoyed a catered meal inside of the YMCA’s Youth Development Center during its annual Giving Tree celebration.

Santa’s Elves, comprised of the Y’s staff and a dozen volunteers, brought the “sunshine,” provided by the overwhelming generosity of several local groups and hundreds of donors. Citivan, Cogent Bank, Publix and scores of Y members provided over 500 toys. Stonewall’s Restaurant catered the meal, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry supplied all the families with a bag of groceries to take home, and the Knights of Columbus of San Marco Catholic Church was able to get Santa Claus to attend. Members of the Y also contributed significantly with money and toys.

A heartfelt experience occurred when Charlene Rose, the Y’s Youth Development Director who organized the event, was graced with the presence of a child whose parents were Rose’s former participants in the Giving Tree many years ago. 

Cindy Love-Abounader, President and CEO of the YMCA of Collier County summed up the Y’s 23rd Annual Giving Tree Celebration by explaining that two of the three areas of focus for the Y are Youth Development and Social Responsibility. For many of the children here today, the only gifts that they will receive on Christmas will be from Santa’s helpers, our donors, volunteers, staff and local agencies. I thank them so much, not only for gifting our children but also, by doing so, embodying those Y areas of focus. Merry Christmas!