NFM Rotary Club seeking Elvis ornaments for Goodwill tree
The Rotary Club of North Fort Myers is now seeking Elvis ornaments for their holiday tree donation to the annual Goodwill Festival of Trees.
“The group has been supporting the holiday fund raiser for many years. Anyone that can donate an Elvis ornament for this year’s Elvis-themed tree can drop them at my office,” said Rotary past president Dr. Terry Tucker. His business, Tucker Vision Center, is at 88 Pine Island Road #3 in North Fort Myers. For information, call 656-1778.
“At last year’s Festival of Trees we had over 5,700 visitors, and raised $56,000 for Goodwill’s programs and services which help people with disabilities and other disadvantages in our area,” said Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. director of Public Relations and Marketing Kirsten Britt O’Donnell.
“We’ve always had great representation from our neighbors in North Fort Myers at the Festival. The North Fort Myers Rotary has been a part of the event for several years, both as volunteers and also as tree sponsors. LCEC has also been a big part of the festival since its beginning six years ago, and they’re also sponsoring a tree this year. We’re thrilled to have them both back with us.”
She gave an update on what is now going on with the popular Southwest Florida event.
“For this year’s festival, so far we have 15 trees confirmed. Our goal is 25, so if anyone is interested in being a part of the festival, contact us.”
The event will be held Nov. 23 through 30 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, with the Children’s workshop at the Festival Nov. 23 through 25. (Admission is $6, kids make holiday crafts, etc.)
There will also be:
n Brunch with Santa, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (admission $12- benefits the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center)
n Holiday Beatles Tribute Concert with the Nowhere Band, Nov. 24
n Tux & Trees Gala Saturday, Dec. 1 (charity fund raiser- tickets $100)
Goodwill also started its opening of two new stores in Estero and Naples. The Naples Donation Center & Book Store grand opening took place Friday, Sept. 7, and the Corkscrew grand opening will take place this Friday, Sept. 14, with a ribbon cutting at 8:45 a.m. The new Retail & Donation Center in Estero is at 10351 Corkscrew Commons Drive.
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc. serves Collier, Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties. Goodwill’s Retail & Donation Centers are located in Bonita Springs, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers Beach, Englewood, Sanibel, Immokalee, Port Charlotte, Labelle, Punta Gorda, Estero, and Clewiston.
Revenue earned at Goodwill’s Retail & Donation Centers supports programs and services for people with disabilities and other disadvantages. Programs include Goodwill’s L.I.F.E. Academy, a charter school for students with intellectual disabilities ages 11 through 22, Job-Link career training and placement services, and income-sensitive housing for people with disabilities and senior citizens.
For more information about Goodwill, visit goodwillswfl.org or call 995-2106.
The Rotary Club of North Fort Myers meets each Thursday at 8 a.m. at the Shell Factory & Nature Park Dolphin Room, and is currently welcoming new members.