Charity Across South Lake (CASL) is collecting toys and food for the needy families and children of the South Lake community, and Santa and his helpers are filling bags full of surprises.

Everyone is invited to join a variety of organizations and agencies across the South Lake community to work together to serve children and families in need. In its first year, Charity Across South Lake served over 1,000 children and families. This is the second year of the very successful community project and the goal is to help at least 3,000 children and their families across Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, Ferndale, Groveland and Mascotte.

Renee Loew shares, “I am truly grateful and elated that so many wonderful South Lake people, companies, city leaders, police departments, and organizations have stepped up to support this collaborative community project.”

Secret Santa Pick Up Plans: South Lake families merely need to go online to register right away with a Christmas Across South Lake application on the Charity Across South Lake website. If needed, you can call or visit the Clermont Hope Center for registration assistance. Many area schools will help you register. With over 130 bikes donated so far, they will be equally divided between the various South Lake communities. Teens who need transportation to and from work can try to register for a bicycle.

A drive-through Santa Shack is being organized. Families who pre-register online will receive an appointment time to pick up toys and food on two Saturdays, December 11 and December 18 between 9 AM to noon. You will need to present photo identification, to show that you currently reside in South Lake. A bilingual staff of volunteers will be there all dressed up in costumes while sharing cookies, hot chocolate and playing festive holiday music. Local area law enforcement officers will be on hand to help organize the drive-through traffic.

Charity Across South Lake Team: Led by Renee Lowe as the CASL Vice President and the Christmas Gift Drive organizer from South Lake Kiwanis, she and their Board have garnered plenty of volunteer help. This Christmas Toy Drive Committee is supported with help from Michelle Michnoff as CASL President from Seacoast Bank, Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway, Clermont Mayor Tim Murry, Groveland Mayor Evelyn Wilson, Mascotte Police Chief Eric Pedersen, Glenn Holcomb as IT Director, Denise Kalman-Smith as Treasurer, Jessica Whitehouse as Secretary, Sandra Vela, Kalena Meyers and all CASL members.

Donations: Charity Across South Lake is always looking for businesses, families and organizations to help donate and sponsor a series of Christmas gifts in December and school backpacks in the fall. They are still in need of more toys, books, bicycles, computers and board games for young children as well as children 12 to 18 years of age. You will find over 140 convenient toy drop locations on their website this year. They are hopeful more will sponsor their charitable events with a donation.

Donations and Sponsorships: Cash donations can be made at Seacoast Bank to the Charity Across South Lake Fund. You will be able to download their QR Code which makes it simple to participate as well as to make your donation pledge.

Mascotte Police Chief Eric Pedersen shared, “We are especially excited to help on this worthwhile community project. We have quite a few officers in our Mascotte Community Engagement Team that love helping for everyone’s benefit. It’s an important rewarding experience to participate and for us to all give something back. We absolutely love seeing all of the children’s smiles!”.  Bridget Kleinschmidt noted, “After I met Renee a few years ago and got involved, I have joined and stayed on as a proud volunteer. It’s the best charitable group and activity that I have ever been involved with to help our local communities. It’s fun and a great way to help all of the South Lake children!”

For more information visit the Charity Across South Lake website at: www.acrosssouthlake.org/. Donors, sponsors and volunteers are always needed. Like and follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CharityAcrossSouthLake\

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Donnie and Darcie Hunt hosted the “Santa Shack” providing their entire office and warehouse space for the collection and distribution of gifts.

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!”

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“We knew Christmas was going to be tough for our community this year,” said Kalena Meyers, group organizer. “Because we could not do our normal give-back events this year, we felt it was best to get all the agencies together and created this large collaborative effort.”

“To date, we have more than 600 children registered,” says Renee Lowe, group coordinator. “Families who need assistance are encouraged to register online as soon as possible. We will be closing our application process on December 1st but if the need is still there and we have the resources available at that time, we will continue to help as many children as we can.”

The group has made an Amazon wish list available on their website making it easy for donors to order toys right off the list from the comfort of their home. The toys are then delivered to a secure location, sorted by volunteers, packaged, and will be delivered to future distribution events.

“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,” Lowe says. Local businesses are encouraging their customers to drop off toys in their collection boxes and offering customers free or discounted items for their donation. Cash donations are needed and can be made online or accepted at Seacoast Bank in Clermont.

“Our business community has really stepped up and we want to thank and recognize our amazing sponsors,” says Lowe. These sponsors include the following:

• Santa Sponsor: Elks Lodge #1848, Winn Dixie, Roe Family Chiropractic, Cagan Crossings, Montverde Academy, Hunt Industrial Park, Seacoast Bank, and an Anonymous Donor
• Claus: Kiwanis Club of South Lake, Kiwanis Club of Clermont, Shirt Shack, Easy Events Group, Lake Catherine Blueberry Farm and Home Depot
• Reindeer Sponsors: Beta Theta Sisters and Scates Realty
• Sleigh Sponsor: Four Corners Insurance and the Original Twistee Treat of Clermont
• In-Kind Donors: Lowe’s, South Lake Quick Print, Chick-fil-a, Sonny’s BBQ and Sky Zone

Please visit Christmas Across South Lake for information on making a donation, sponsorship opportunities, registering for assistance, a list of toy drop-off locations, Amazon toy wish list, and upcoming events.

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Christmas Across South Lake was created to help make Christmas a little brighter this holiday season for children in the South Lake community. Several groups including nonprofits, civic clubs, service groups, schools, and police departments are working together with a goal of providing new toys and gifts for 1,000 children in Clermont, Minneola, Montverde, Groveland and Mascotte. Volunteers have distributed 150 toy collection boxes and several Angel Trees tags to numerous businesses all over the area.

The group has made an Amazon wish list available on their website making it easy for donors to order toys right off the list from the comfort of their home. The toys are then delivered to a secure location, sorted by volunteers, packaged, and will be delivered to future distribution events.

“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,” Lowe says. Local businesses are encouraging their customers to drop off toys in their collection boxes and offering customers free or discounted items for their donation. Cash donations are needed and can be made online or accepted at Seacoast Bank in Clermont.

Please visit Christmas Across South Lake for information on making a donation, sponsorship opportunities, registering for assistance, a list of toy drop-off locations, Amazon toy wish list, and upcoming events.

The post Christmas Across South Lake – Help Brighten A Child’s Christmas appeared first on South Lake Tablet.