Dayran Figueroa is shown in the back of his grandmother’s van eyeing a bicycle that was given out by Lehigh Community Services last Friday. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Lehigh Acres Community Services hit a record last week with thousands of toys which were given out to hundreds of children.

Charlotte Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, said she was sure that it was a record with more than 300 children being given Christmas gifts from the agency which received them from clubs and organizations throughout the community.

“People were just so wonderful to us this year,” Nicely said as she was dashing down the hall to retrieve a pile of toys for a family.

“Thank God I have such wonderful volunteers, too. Without them, I couldn’t do this and thank God for all the wonderful people in Lehigh who gave gifts and food which we gave out last week. We began at the beginning of the week and wrapped it up on Friday from 10 to noon,” she said.

A room at Lehigh Community Services at 1206 Wing’s Way was filled with gifts for waiting children, all gifts given were suited to the age of the youngsters.

Hugging new toy: Shania Wolf, 4, hugs a stuffed animal, one of several gifts handed out last Friday by Lehigh Community Services. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Some weeks ago, families who needed help applied to get Christmas gifts and Nicely checked with others in the community to make sure people’s names were not being duplicated. Families gave proof of income in order to be eligible.

“That way, we all knew we would be able to reach more families,” she said.

She said she believe the people of Lehigh are fully aware of the need here due to the economic conditions.

And because of that, she said, they poured out their hearts to make sure the children had a nice Christmas.

Large bags of toys, twenty some bicycles and a few tricycles were given out, too.

Employees of McDonald’s fast food restaurant in Lehigh pose with the many toys they collected and donated to Lehigh Community Services for the annual Christmas Toy Give Away last week. Photo provided

She said she only wishes she had been able to get more bicycles for the children.

“This year we limited our gifts to children from age 1 to 12. I wish we could have given to teenagers, but we just couldn’t because we wanted the younger ones to have a nice Christmas,” Nicely said.

She said some families called past the qualifications deadline and she told them that they may have some toys left over and to call them back or come in this past Monday.

“People are still giving us toys, so maybe we can help more if they come in,” she said.

Nicely is so organized that her volunteers all admire her.

Shania Wolf, 4, looks over the many gifts for she and two of her siblings for Christmas this year, all provided by the people of Lehigh Acres to Lehigh Community Services which handed them out on Friday. Photo by Mel Toadvine

“She a great lady and I don’t know she does it all,” said Teresa Goodlad, one of the volunteers.

Jim Phebus, another volunteer, who has been helping to pass out toys for at least six years, also praised Nicely for “pulling it all together like she does.”

Also helping out this year were firefighters who had the day off and a deputy from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

Asked what value she would put on all the toys given by the community, Nicely said she had no idea but it had to be at least $5,000 worth.

“We had more toys come in today, Friday, two loads so we may have some left over,” she said.

“I’ll be happy if we do so we help many other families. This is Christmas and we want our community to enjoy it …. Lehigh is such a giving community. They look out for each other at times like this,” she said.

On Friday, families were standing in line by 8:30 a.m., according to Phebus. He said he arrived at 8:45 a.m. and the line was across the parking lot of the agency. The doors opened at 10 a.m.

And this year Nicely changed the way in which the toys were distributed. Instead of so many people coming in the office at one time with all the confusion, she changed it so the family was identified who had qualified, and then a volunteer led them down a hall to the toy room and helped them exit the building by the back door.

Nicely said the families, some who brought their small children, were very appreciative. They know we in Lehigh care,” she said.

Tammy Wolf brought her four-year-old granddaughter with her to pick up toys for her daughter’s family.

“I’m doing it for her, to help her. She has three children and it looks as if there are some nice gifts for the kids. It’s very hard for her,” she said.

Brooke Ricciardi, an engineer and paramedic from the Lehigh Acres Fire Dept. was on hand and she said she enjoyed helping to pass out the toys.

She said many of the toys came from firefighters in Lehigh who know how bad times are for many people. “They want to give back to the community,” she said.

She said firefighters had supplied 20 bikes and three tricycles and a $200 check for families in need.

She also said the firefighters had adopted a family this Christmas and was making sure they had food and toys.

“Doing this is just awesome this year,” Ricciardi said.