Manatee County community's generous Christmas spirit on display everywhere
The heartfelt spirit of Christmas abounds this year once again throughout Manatee County. Generous and joyful residents boost the spirits of hundreds and hundreds of children whose needy families gratefully accept presents of toys, books, even shoes. The numerous toy drives always enliven this season of giving.
This year, though, we stumbled across a memorable story of neighborly friendship and a special gift for an elderly woman whose mobility is quite restricted. We'll get to her holiday tale later.
Just one of the many poignant acts of compassion comes from HOPE Family Services, a shelter for battered women escaping abuse. A mother staying there with her two toddlers for the past month and a half expressed determination to give the kids presents despite her shaky finances. Shelter staff assured her that she could select free gifts for her children. HOPE's toy store handed out 900 toys to 297 children from 69 families last Christmas. Donations come from all over the community, all admirable gestures of kindness for victims of domestic violence.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office put on a spectacular extravaganza with the 30th annual Flight to the North Pole, this year hosting 117 children with special needs or terminal illnesses and their families. With gifts, horse rides, crafts, clowns, food and music, the kids also enjoyed playing in fake snow and watching Santa join the festivities after descending on a helicopter.
Bradenton's law enforcement agency again joined the toy parade with this year's eighth annual Honoring the Badge event inside Toys "R" Us. Bradenton police officers, detectives and other staff guide children through the aisles to help select presents with their parents in tow. Some 120 children and their families attended last week's BPD-Kingdom Life Christian Church event.
The community of Parrish continued a longstanding tradition by staging a Christmas party for farmworker children and others with modest lifestyles. More than 130 children and their families celebrated the 28th annual event with caroling, balloon art, homemade holiday cookies -- and a big bag of eight to 10 gifts.
The "Marty Toy Drive" nine days ago featured the lovable mascot of the Bradenton Marauders. The minor league baseball team hosted the event at Pirate City in partnership with Bradenton's Salvation Army chapter, collecting toys headed to the 2,000 children who registered with the agency's Adopt A Family program.
The Manatee County Toys for Tots program, spearheaded by the Marine Corps League Desoto Detachment 588, ranks as the largest Santa around. Organizers, still collecting donations from the dozens and dozens of Toys for Tots boxes scattered around the county, hope to reach last year's grand total of almost 50,000 toys. And Marines will deliver late into Christmas Eve and even on the big day itself, if need be.
Businesses large and small join the Merry Christmas spirit, too. Bealls responded to an overture for help from Andrew Stillman, the owner of Briones Transmission and Auto Repair and Stillman Tree Service. Stillman was trying to fulfill a request for help from Manatee Children's Services. Stillman only asked Bealls for a few boxes of shoes for children, but an outlet store sent more than two dozen boxes filled with much more.
Individuals and families, the faith community and every corner of the community embrace this joy of giving. Once again, Ray Baden handed out $10,000 checks to 10 county nonprofits from the Sara and Ray Baden Fund.
We salute all this generosity with gratitude we live in such a community.
The best gift of all
We trust the spirit of Christmas is best illustrated by a different kind of gift, one that warms the heart of the recipient -- but not with anything material. We found that in a hand-written letter to the editor from Billie P. Martini of Holmes Beach. She finds blessings in the deep friendships that grace her life.
Her letter of gratitude speaks volumes:
I was in the process of writing a letter to the editor about the generosity of some neighbors of mine. Every morning Sharon Hightower puts my newspaper by my door. She visits me often and offers her help in anything I may need. Allen Snyder gets my groceries and offers the same friendship.
Just as I was to put pen to paper in walks Sharon with about 20 Girl Scouts (Troop 35) -- Laura Hurst, leader, and Paula Ryan, co-leader, with parents singing Christmas carols. If they only knew how this made me feel. Maybe they will when they get old and incapacitated.
Unable to walk without a walker, or go to the store, I only hope you live in a community with a caring, loving Girl Scout troop and neighbors such as I have.
Merry Christmas to you all and may your new year be filled with love and caring both ways.
Billie P. Martini
Holmes Beach
Well said, Ms. Martini. and happy holidays to you, your friends and the Girl Scout troop.
This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County community's generous Christmas spirit on display everywhere ."