PICTURED LEFT TO RIGHT: JACKIE BOGLE, KELLY LOW, SANDIE PEARL, STEPHANIE NEWMAN, SHARON COBURN, EVA FIX, AUDREY SCHMITT, CAROL LAPRADE
It all started nearly 20 years ago when a few Verandah women got together to help a local family that was struggling to have Christmas for their kids. Fast forward to today, and that small house party has grown to over 125 residents who have volunteered this season to shop and wrap gifts and provide a healthy holiday meal for families in need. And at least 60 men and women have volunteered to deliver gifts on December 23.
Each season starts off with a festive cocktail party at the Club where donations are collected. “Planning and being at the event is great fun, but the best part is that we get to make a difference,” says Eva Fix, Vice President of the Visions of Sugar Plums charitable organization. This year 250 residents attended and the final accounting has $35,000 raised. ‘Tis the season to give, and the generosity of Verandah residents is beyond measure.
“What makes Visions of Sugar Plums unique is our dedication to ‘adopting’ the family,” said Sharon Coburn, President. At present we are helping over 225 children. This includes the children of Verandah staff who are in need, 20 children from Manatee Elementary who lost everything in hurricane flooding, and many children identified through the Salvation Army. Each child gets new shoes, needed items of clothing, and then there is an effort to fulfill their wish list. Most of these children have never had new clothes with tags on them, or a pair of shoes not previously worn. This year there was an especially large number of requests for little children’s bikes, 21 little 16”- and 20”-inch bikes…imagine the joy! In addition, every child at Buckingham Exceptional Children’s School received a gift.
Families also receive all the food for a delicious ham dinner for Christmas, and bags of nutritious food for the week the children are home from school. This is so appreciated and needed by these families.
We even donated a couple of Christmas trees and all decorations for families who wouldn’t have had one. And the moms, who haven’t been given a gift for years, each receive a beautiful blanket made by our own Sew and Sews.
During this holiday season, there have been many opportunities in Verandah to participate in making the holidays just a little brighter for someone else. Every family greatly appreciated your generosity and kindness this year.
Without you, many of these families wouldn’t have had a joyful holiday season. We wish health and happiness to you and yours in the new year ahead.
