In Cooperation with The Venice Foodies and Venice Moms Helping Hands, We’re Creating Christmas Miracles AGAIN in 2023!
If You want to be a miracle for a local family in Sarasota County, Florida… Start Here! You can Be A Miracle – Shop Our Amazon Registry! or Join The Group to adopt a family directly and shop for their gifts. Then you would coordinate with us in the group to drop them off at our storage unit. We coordinate with the families to have them pick up their gifts along with any extra goodies we can gather like household cleaners, paper goods, gift cards, cleaning supplies, Christmas decorations, stockings and more.
Do You Need a Miracle in Sarasota County? Sign Up Here
Our History With Christmas Miracles
Since 2013, our Christmas Present Drive has become a cherished tradition for the Venice area, serving as a source of immense blessings for the community. It brings us great joy to witness the outpouring of love and kindness from both our dedicated volunteers, whom we fondly call “miracle workers,” and the families who receive these heartfelt presents. Over the years we have been privileged to witness the profound impact of this initiative, not only on the families directly involved but also on the wider community. It is heartwarming to see how acts of generosity and compassion can create a ripple effect, transforming the lives of those who were once in need into beacons of hope for others.
The Christmas Miracles has become a beacon of hope during the holiday season, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity as people come together to spread joy and create magical moments for those less fortunate. The overwhelming support of individuals and businesses alike has allowed us to reach beyond our initial goals, continuously expanding our outreach and helping an increasing number of families each year.
Beyond the material aspect of receiving presents, the true magic lies in the connections formed, the relationships nurtured, and the lasting memories created. Not only are we providing gifts to children, but we are also fostering a sense of belonging, love, and empathy within the community. These acts of goodwill not only impact the immediate families involved but also have a profound effect on the overall well-being of each individual touched by this initiative.
What began as a simple idea to bring joy and happiness to the less fortunate during the holiday season has evolved into a powerful force that continues to strengthen bonds, ignite hope, and inspire others to pay it forward. With each passing year, we are reminded of the incredible resilience and collective spirit of humanity. Together, we can continue to make a difference, one gift at a time, creating miracles that ripple through the lives of countless families and remind us all of the true spirit of the holiday season.
Why You Should Join Our Efforts
One thing that sets us apart from other programs is that we do our best to get to know a little something about the children so that they are receiving gifts that they wished for. There are so many wonderful organizations out there that provide assistance but have strict income guidelines or requirements that our families don’t meet. We believe that a family’s need shouldn’t be judged by what’s on paper because EVERY CHILD DESERVES A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS. We also love that many of our families will choose to share photos from Christmas morning with either just their miracle worker or with our whole community. None of this would be possible without the support we receive from the local people of Venice and the small businesses that coordinate toy drives and fundraisers with us.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are you a tax-deductible organization?
No, we are not a 501c3. We are simply a group of moms trying to make a difference in our community.
How Do You Qualify Families To Receive Help?
Parents/Caregivers are not required to show proof of anything other than who they are and that the children are theirs in order to receive assistance. Most of these families we have known for years because of this program. We believe that it is hard enough to ask for help, making parents prove that they need it can cause more harm and that is not what we want. Our philosophy is always “It is not our place to judge who needs help. It is our job to lift the fallen, restore the broken and heal the hurting.”
How Does This Work?
Last year in 2022, we had to change the way we operated things after dealing with the hurricane and no way to obtain a storage unit affordably. This year, we are back to our regular system. On the Facebook Group, there will be an album showing the names and wishlists for families in need. Comment to let us know you are adopting that family, and we will confirm with you. Then, you simply shop for the family based on the wishlist (you can pick and choose from the list or get ideas from it!) Then coordinate with either Jamie or Alyssa to drop off your gifts at the storage unit. From there, we will coordinate with the families to pick up their gifts.
If you don’t have the time to shop, you can go to our Amazon registry to donate a gift card and we will shop from their lists for you.
Thank You To Local Businesses Who Have Continuously Supported Our Efforts.
We Love Seeing Smiling Faces On Christmas!
Other Assistance Available For Christmas:
| North Port Family Service Center 941-429-3700 The non-profit has holiday food baskets as well as a toy chest for children. Most of the clients of the Sarasota County non-profit already receive some type of government aid, such as SNAP food stamps or free school lunches. Venice office of Salvation Army 1051 Albee Farm Road Venice, FL, 34285 Main phone – 941-484-6227 Assistance is for residents of the zip codes of 34274, 34285, 34292, and 34293 only. Whether it is the Angel Tree program to get a present or holiday meal, support is offered to the less fortunate. | Sarasota County Toys For Tots Register online. Phone 941-497-3280. Christmas gifts, presents, free toys, and clothing is given to people that register and meet income limits. Both boys and girls can get gender specific items from the holiday program. Salvation Army of North Port Location is 4940 Pan American Blvd North Port, Florida 34285 Telephone: 941-484-6227 They help senior citizens and the disabled by delivering meals. Other clients of the holiday programs are families with no children. There are also Thanksgiving turkey meals served as well. |
