Guadalupe Center is accepting donations to restock its Holiday Gift Shop, an annual shopping experience that allows Immokalee parents to select Christmas presents for their children.
Now through Dec. 5, Guadalupe Center will accept new, unwrapped donations of toys, clothing, shoes and other gifts appropriate for infants through teenagers. In 2018, Guadalupe Center distributed gifts for 900 children, helping 328 Immokalee families put presents under the Christmas tree.
“The Holiday Gift Shop means everything to these parents, many of whom struggle with day-to-day living expenses, let alone the additional financial burden during the holidays,” said Guadalupe Center President Dawn Montecalvo. “Each year, generous individuals, residential communities, local clubs and businesses contribute gifts and monetary donations that help make the Holiday Gift Shop a tremendous success.”
The Holiday Gift Shop is open to parents of children in Guadalupe Center programs. Donated items include new clothing and shoes, board games, dolls, bicycles, LEGO sets, books, stuffed animals and other toys, as well as gift cards for the teenagers. After parents select gifts, community volunteers then wrap the presents.
Guadalupe Center suggests the following age-appropriate gifts:
- Infants and toddlers (0-2 years): infant gyms and bouncers, rattles, baby dolls, stacking rings, crib mobiles, bath toys, musical toys
- Preschool-age children (3-5 years): building blocks, baby dolls, remote-controlled cars, popular children’s characters and superheroes, activity sets, Play-Doh
- School-age children (6-12 years): Barbie dolls, action figures, LEGO kits, musical instruments, sporting goods, arts and crafts kits, riding toys
- Teenagers (13-18): gift cards, non-violent video games, purses or wallets, hair accessories, wireless headphones, tabletop games, clothing featuring sports teams
The Holiday Gift Shop runs Dec. 9-13.
Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at Guadalupe Resale Shop at 12980 Tamiami Trail North, Unit 10, in Naples; or contact Ellie Ramirez at ERamirez@guadalupecenter.org to arrange for drop off at the Morgridge Family Early Childhood Education Campus at 509 Hope Circle in Immokalee. Alternatively, monetary donations can be made online at GuadalupeCenter.org.
Guadalupe Center staff will also be collecting gifts at Mercato, 911 Strada Place in Naples, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20 outside Bravo Italian Restaurant, and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 on the event lawn.
For more information, please contact Bob Spano, vice president of programs, at RSpano@GuadalupeCenter.org or 239-657-7145.
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: 95% meet or exceed kindergarten readiness measures, 100% of Tutor Corps high school seniors graduate high school and are accepted into college, and more than 92% graduate with a post-secondary degree.
