Over 120 needy children and their families celebrated the holiday season at the 2nd Annual Season of Giving event at the James P. Gills Family YMCA in Trinity on Saturday, December 5.
It was a little different this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Pre-registered families were greeted in their cars with gifts and holiday cheer by Santa, Mrs. Claus, elves and Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies. Boar’s Head gave every family a ham for Christmas. First Home Bank provided blankets for each child.
The event was organized by the YMCA’s Togetherhood Committee at the James P. Gills YMCA, which provides Y members with fun, convenient and rewarding ways to give back and support their community.
“I’m going to tell you from experience. We didn’t grow up middle class, we grew up poor but my parents never made us feel that. We just thought everybody lived the same way but when Santa brings you a toy that you wished for- it’s powerful. It reinforces a belief system. It reinforces that there’s good in the world,” said James P. Gills Y Board Chair and Togetherhood Committee member Jacques Hakim.
Marcus Meyer has been volunteering for the event since it started.
“My favorite part is seeing the kids’ faces. Just seeing them light up when they see Santa,” he said. “You can’t ask for anything more. It’s what the season is about.”
For more information about the James P. Gills Family YMCA and YMCA of the Suncoast visit https://www.ymcasuncoast.org/locations/james-p-gills-family-branch.
