Page 2 - Martin Downs Bulletin - December '19

Page 2, Martin Downs

Holiday Happenings

Top Three Ways To Spread during a two-day distribution event.

Holiday Cheer In Martin Participating families, who are
referred and screened by nonprofit
County organizations and schools, are also
provided with a holiday meal.
United Way Of Martin County Spreads “We live in a very giving
community,” said United Way
Holiday Cheer For Families Facing Hard of Martin County CEO Carol G.
Times: Here’s How You Can Help Houwaart-Diez. “Now is the time
The holidays are for people to pitch in and help.
quickly approaching Our greatest fear is that we won’t
and for many children have enough toys and meals for
pres ents are not all of the families we’ll serve this
gua ra nt e e d. Wi t h year. We are encouraging people
Martin County’ s to shop early so that every toy can
poverty level hovering be counted and sorted in time for
at 10 percent and an distribution.”
additional 28 percent
struggling to afford Top Three Ways To Spread
basic needs, it won’t be Cheer In Martin County Staff at Sandhill Cove Retirement Living sorted toys in Santa’s workshop to prepare
a Merry Christmas for an 1. Volunteer for the United Way Holiday Project.
alarming number of local The volunteers behind the United
families. Way Holiday Project spend weeks planning and preparing for the largest shortages,” Houwaart-Diez said. Shortfalls are
For more than 30 the distribution event, which serves nearly 3,000 children in typically for children 13 to 15 years of age because this is
years, United Way of Martin County. Volunteers are needed to sort and categorize the most challenging group to shop for. “It’s heartbreaking to
Martin County has Volunteers from Florida Power toys in advance of toy distribution so that parents can easily see bare tables for the older age groups, so this year we will
spread holiday cheer and Light Company, Ron Hix and “shop” for toys specific to their children’s interest. This is be providing gift cards for teens – but we need donations to
to thousands of less Diane Nguyen the perfect activity for a civic group or family. make that happen,” Houwaart-Diez added.
fortunate children Hundreds of volunteers are also needed to assist during the United Way is also conducting a bike drive in partnership
through the United Way Holiday Project. two-day distribution event on Dec. 18 and 19. To volunteer with Zweben Law Group. The goal of the bike drive is to
With help from hundreds of volunteers, United Way during distribution, individuals must be ages 18 and up and cover the cost of 300 bikes to be given to children in need
transforms the Martin County fairgrounds to Santa’s can serve in 3-hour shifts as personal shoppers, directing during distribution. A $60 donation to the effort covers
workshop to help bring Christmas joy to local families in traffic, distributing food, and more. the cost of a bike and helmet thanks to a partnership with
need. As the local coordinating agency for Toys for Tots, 2. Donate A New, Unwrapped Toy Beyond Bikes. “There’s nothing more magical for a child
United Way collects toys from 100 Toys for Tots collection United Way will be accepting new, unwrapped toys at than waking up on Christmas morning to find a shiny new
sites, then rallies its volunteers to sort and categorize toys so Toys for Tots collections sites until Thursday, Dec. 12. All bicycle underneath the tree and through our efforts we hope
that parents “shop” for toys specific to their children’s interest toys collected in Martin County stay in Martin County to 300 children will be able to experience that magic,” said
make the holidays bright for local children. Gene Zweben, Zweben Law Group.
3. Give A Financial Gift To Cover The Cost Of A Gift A financial contribution can also cover the cost of a
Card, Bike Or Holiday Meal holiday meal that is provided to families during distribution.
Monetary donations are welcomed. “Monetary donations
allow us the opportunity to purchase toys where we have Holiday Happenings on page 3

Steven Kowalski, Amber Stephan and Shannon Murphy with
Merrill Lynch handed out turkeys to families at United Way
Holiday Project distribution.

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