Community Services to hand out toys to 300
Rae Nicely
This week on Thursday is a big day at Lehigh Community Services because that’s when some 300 children plus and their parents will be given Christmas toys at the agency at 201 Plaza Drive in Lehigh Acres.
“It’s a lot of fun and sometimes confusion, too,” laughed Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services. The agency has been handing out toys to needy children for many years.
The toy giveaway begins at 2 and lasts to 4 p.m. and Nicely noted that those families who will be given free toys have had to be preregistered.
“We started last week filling hundreds of plastic bags with toys to hand out,” she said.
“The people of Lehigh, the clubs and organizations and others are so generous in their giving. We have matched the children with the toys that will fill their wishes,” Nicely said.
“There will be other children whose parents didn’t register beforehand and we might have some toys left over at the end, but I would suggest that if families didn’t come in and preregister, that they go to the Dr. Piper Center in Fort Myers, but they may want to contact them first at 332-5346.
“It’s my understanding that they start handing out toys early in the day and I could easily bet that there may be another 100 kids from Lehigh who may have to go over there because we will have run out of toys,” she said.
Some 20 “elves” as Nicely calls them, are her volunteers and they and Nicely have packed the toys with the names of the children on them so tomorrow, parents can come to the back section of our office building to get their toys. Last year the giveaway Christmas toy event was held at the hotel on Business Way, but it seems to work better back at Lehigh Community Services.
“People can line up at the door where the food is given away and at 2 p.m., those doors will swing open, and our elves will give them their toys. Parents should make sure they have their identification since they preregistered.
“I love the looks of the little children who come with their parents when they see the bag of toys that Santa left here for them,” she laughed. “And you hear them thank us for what the community has done and that sounds so nice,” she said.
“You know, without the toy giveaway programs in Lee County and especially here in Lehigh, there would be children who receive no toys on Christmas morning and that is sad,” Nicely said.
“We hope we will be able to brighten up a lot of Christmas mornings for a lot of deserving kids here in Lehigh.”
Meanwhile, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has to Friday for people to purchase a new unwrapped toy for a child from one to 16 years of age and take it to the front lobby at 1301` Homestead Rd., in Lehigh.
The donated items will be delivered to local charities that will benefit needy youth in Lehigh Acres for Christmas.
For more information, call Andrea Adams at 239-477-1458.
Community Services to hand out toys to 300
Rae Nicely
This week on Thursday is a big day at Lehigh Community Services because that’s when some 300 children plus and their parents will be given Christmas toys at the agency at 201 Plaza Drive in Lehigh Acres.
“It’s a lot of fun and sometimes confusion, too,” laughed Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services. The agency has been handing out toys to needy children for many years.
The toy giveaway begins at 2 and lasts to 4 p.m. and Nicely noted that those families who will be given free toys have had to be preregistered.
“We started last week filling hundreds of plastic bags with toys to hand out,” she said.
“The people of Lehigh, the clubs and organizations and others are so generous in their giving. We have matched the children with the toys that will fill their wishes,” Nicely said.
“There will be other children whose parents didn’t register beforehand and we might have some toys left over at the end, but I would suggest that if families didn’t come in and preregister, that they go to the Dr. Piper Center in Fort Myers, but they may want to contact them first at 332-5346.
“It’s my understanding that they start handing out toys early in the day and I could easily bet that there may be another 100 kids from Lehigh who may have to go over there because we will have run out of toys,” she said.
Some 20 “elves” as Nicely calls them, are her volunteers and they and Nicely have packed the toys with the names of the children on them so tomorrow, parents can come to the back section of our office building to get their toys. Last year the giveaway Christmas toy event was held at the hotel on Business Way, but it seems to work better back at Lehigh Community Services.
“People can line up at the door where the food is given away and at 2 p.m., those doors will swing open, and our elves will give them their toys. Parents should make sure they have their identification since they preregistered.
“I love the looks of the little children who come with their parents when they see the bag of toys that Santa left here for them,” she laughed. “And you hear them thank us for what the community has done and that sounds so nice,” she said.
“You know, without the toy giveaway programs in Lee County and especially here in Lehigh, there would be children who receive no toys on Christmas morning and that is sad,” Nicely said.
“We hope we will be able to brighten up a lot of Christmas mornings for a lot of deserving kids here in Lehigh.”
Meanwhile, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has to Friday for people to purchase a new unwrapped toy for a child from one to 16 years of age and take it to the front lobby at 1301` Homestead Rd., in Lehigh.
The donated items will be delivered to local charities that will benefit needy youth in Lehigh Acres for Christmas.
For more information, call Andrea Adams at 239-477-1458.
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