| 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.
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