Guadalupe Center distributed gifts for 900 children in December through its Holiday Gift Shop, helping 328 Immokalee families put additional presents under the Christmas tree this season.
“The Holiday Gift Shop allows parents of our students to select toys, clothing, shoes and other items so each of their children has a present to unwrap on Christmas morning,” said Dawn Montecalvo, Guadalupe Center president. “Every year, local residents, civic groups, residential communities and businesses step forward with donations to help brighten up the holiday season for hundreds of Immokalee families, and we’re so thankful they continue supporting this wonderful program.”
The Holiday Gift Shop was open to all parents whose children attend Guadalupe Center’s Early Childhood Education, After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment, and Tutor Corps programs. Donated items included clothing, board games, dolls, bicycles, race cars, books, stuffed animals and other toys. Once parents selected gifts, Guadalupe Center staff members, Tutor Corps students and community volunteers then wrapped the presents.
In addition to the 900 children who received presents through the Holiday Gift Shop, Guadalupe Center students received gifts through partnerships with a number of community-oriented businesses, organizations and individuals, including:
- Community School of Naples’ Teen Angels Project: 270 children
- Dawn Wagoner of PetSmart’s Teddy Bear Collection: 270 children
- Waterside Shops’ Toy Drive: 148 children
- Latin American Motorcycle Association’s Holiday Toy Run: 131 children
- Sara Frederick’s donation at Highlands Elementary: 120 children
- Miromar Outlets’ Immokalee Gift Delivery: 86 children
- Headstart’s Adopt-A-Family project: 16 children
- Guadalupe Center’s Adopt-A-Family project: 15 children
About Guadalupe Center
Guadalupe Center is a purpose-driven, nonprofit organization with proven results in creating endless possibilities for the students of Immokalee through education and fostering personal and academic success that leads to economic independence. With a focus on breaking the cycle of poverty through education, Guadalupe Center is proud of the children’s accomplishments: 94 percent meet or exceed kindergarten readiness measures, 100 percent of Tutor Corps high school seniors graduate high school and are accepted into college, and more than 92 percent graduate with a post-secondary degree.