Many charitable organizations ask for toy donations this holiday season, and the local Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) hopes you will include them by contributing to the “Be Their Magic Holiday Drive” for local children in need.
Gulf Coast JFCS has been serving Florida residents since 1960. Over 600 employees in 41 Florida counties support more than 37,000 people every year. Services include behavioral health support, children and family services, adoption support, refugee help, and food and rent assistance. Since 1974, the organization has been nondenominational and serves clients from every religion and culture. Only their clients receive the holiday gifts, so you can be assured they are truly in need.
Be Their Magic: Easy Ways to Donate
There are three opportunities to donate gifts to those who might otherwise have to go without. The first is the Holiday Bazaar, an annual free shopping event where donated toys, clothing, hygiene products, winter holiday packaged foods and gift cards are available for any Gulf Coast JFCS client in need. They simply make an appointment and then privately select two to three items. You can drop off any unwrapped items at the Gulf Coast JFCS located at 14041 Icot Blvd. in Clearwater from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The second way is to host an Angel Tree. You set up a small tree with your friends and family or a community organization, and Gulf Coast JFCS offers a list of children with their ages and desired gifts. Or you can find many trees at a variety of businesses throughout the Tampa Bay area where you can select a name and deliver a gift to that organization. To make it even easier, visit the Gulf Coast JFCS website (see below), select an age group, and then choose from a list of suggested gifts they have posted on Amazon. All gifts must be delivered to Gulf Coast JFCS by Dec. 15.
Since not all children receive gifts from either of these two programs, cash donations are welcome so the staff can fill in any gaps. You can be assured that when you click on the Donate Now button on their holiday website that the money will go toward gifts for children and will not be used for other purposes.
Communications manager Hana Cowart has been with the JFCS organization for many years. “Our staff deliver these toys and see the smiles on the faces of parents who know they won’t have to worry about how to make the holidays happen,’ she says. “That’s what community is all about.”
For information, please visit https://gulfcoastjewishfamilyandcommunityservices.org/holidays/, call Helen Amburgey at (727) 479-1805 or email [email protected].
