Caring and Sharing started over 30 years ago when the Holley-Navarre
Fire Station gathered toys for the children in the area for Christmas.
Don VanDerryt was the newly appointed fire chief and he and his daughter
Theresa set about the task of sorting the toys that had been donated.
She went home in tears and told her mother Ruby that there were not
enough toys, and most of the toys were broken and in need of repair.
They gathered up what money they could and bought presents for the
children.
The next year Ruby took on the job of collecting food, getting
donations, and buying toys and wrapping them. She went door-to-door
to the businesses to get help. She discovered the people had hearts
of gold! And a tradition continues.
Through the years this event evolved into a South Santa Rosa County
organization with support volunteers from Gulf Breeze to Navarre
and north to the Yellow River. Caring and Sharing of South Santa
Rosa County. Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization in which
all members are volunteers (including the board).
They have many reasons for volunteering: to repay what was
once given to them, to help their fellow man, to replace feelings
of loneliness, to re-affirm their beliefs. But they all have
a common goal: to help brighten the holiday season for those
who are struggling to make it on a daily basis and who could
use a little help in providing a more joyous holiday for their
families.
People think this is a wealthy area. We tend to zip up and down
Highway 98 and see the condos on the beach, and the nicely manicured
entrances to subdivisions and golf courses. A short drive down any
side road will convince you otherwise. There are families who are
struggling to make ends meet. During the Chistmas 2008 distribution,
Caring and Sharing of South Santa Rosa County provided support for
over 300 families, including gifts for more than 600 children.
