Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, provided holiday cheer by distributing Christmas gifts to 335 children across the state.
Every year with the support of generous donors, Better Together provides Christmas gifts to the families the nonprofit serves through its Better Families program. Better Together rallied the support of the community as well as partners and volunteers to collect Christmas gifts for families across Northeast Florida, Ocala, Sarasota, Southwest Florida and Tampa.
The nonprofit hosted a series of events throughout December where families were able to gather for an evening of community, holiday fun and food. During each region’s outreach event, parents and guardians received toys and Christmas gifts to give to their children on Christmas morning. Bicycles, dolls, toy cars, action figures, board games, baby toys, coloring books and art supplies were among the items collected and distributed to local families. Additional gifts will be distributed to families leading up to the holidays.
“The holiday season can be a difficult time for all of us, especially for families who are already struggling,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “Because of the selfless donors who supported Better Together this year, we were able to provide hundreds of children with gifts to find under the tree on Christmas morning.”
This holiday season, a variety of organizations across Florida contributed to lightening the load for families and children. Organizations participating as toy drive collection sites throughout the state included: Appleton Museum of Art, The Beach Tower at Moraya Bay Condo Association, Calvary Chapel Naples, Dragon Flower Winery, Gary Yeomans Ford Villages, The Gathering Café, Great Bay Distributors, Gulfside Chiropractic, IM=X Pilates Fort Myers, Lake Medical
Hearing Center, Norman Love Confections, Nuviva Medical Weight Loss of Cape Coral, Priority Marketing, Soleil Bakery & Social House, and Watson Realty.
Other supporters of Better Together’s holiday toy drive and outreach included: Barnes & Noble, Emily Bischoff, Toni Brazil & Ken Pulicari, Christ Community Church, City Light Church, The Club at Mediterra, Covenant Church of Naples, Dunkin’, Epic Theatres of Ocala, Faith Life Church, Mort Elementary, Hair Therapy, Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County, IL Primo Pizza & Wings, Ivy on the Square, K-Force, Todd & Jessica Kleven, LadyCakes Bakery, Chris & Ashley Malleo, Jacqueline Malleo, Matt & Kaitlynn Malleo, Mariner Finance, Miles Elementary, Mission BBQ, Mojo’s in Ocala, Orlando Health, Carol Norkus, Red Robin, Root Realty, Santa Claus with Scott and Danuta, Scott Marcotte Construction, The Simonelli Real Estate Group, Sky Zone, Suncoast Credit Union, Standralyn Terry, Texas Roadhouse, the VanDalens and Trinity Lutheran Church’s Ladies of Trinity Women’s Group.
