Caring and Sharing started over 20 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 an 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. On average we provide support
for 1100 people through the two holidays. As an example, during
Chistmas 2000 distribution, we provided for 209 families, including
gifts for 364 children.
