Community Spotlight Shines On Christmas Across South Lake

It hasn’t been a good year for many. The COVID pandemic has left people without jobs and the means to pay for essentials. Local food banks and charitable organizations have been inundated with people needing a helping hand; and after living through nearly a year of financial uncertainty, the holidays arrive. What next!

Christmas Across South Lake was an idea of four women who knew it would be a tough time for the community that had been hit hard as the result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Rene Lowe, Kalena Meyers, Michelle Michnoff, and Denise Kalman-Smith met one day in October and from that meeting formed an organization that could help make Christmas a little brighter this holiday season for children in the South Lake community.

“We knew Christmas was going to be tough for our community this year,” said Kalena Meyers. “Because we could not do our normal give-back events this year, we felt it was best to get all the agencies together and create a  larger collaborative effort.”  Groups including nonprofits, civic clubs, service groups, schools, and police departments were contacted and began working together with a goal of providing new toys and gifts for the children in Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, Groveland and Mascotte. Volunteers delivered over 150 toy collection boxes and several Angel Trees tags to businesses all over the area.Rene Lowe coordinated the volunteer community effort. Rene, a clinical liaison at Roe Family Chiropractic, was able to devote the entire month of December to get gifts under the tree and food on the table for kids living Across South Lake.

Approximately 200 volunteer Santa Helpers, including police and fire departments, were on hand to spread goodwill and distribute gifts to families Across South Lake.  Approximately 2,300 kids, 700 families throughout Clermont, Groveland, Mascotte, Minneola and Montverde were given gifts wrapped in love and goodwill.

“The support from our entire community has been amazing and everyone is working together for the good of giving back and helping these children and families during these tough times,” said Lowe.

Michnoff promises this will not be a one-time event. The Amazing 4 have formed a corporation and want to make Christmas Across South Lake an annual event and further to expand its mission. “Kids need community support throughout the year. Our next project may include providing Back Packs and supplies to the kids in need in the South Lake Communities”.

SOUTH LAKE TABLET: “Congratulations to all the people who helped to make the season shine in South Lake!”