Spirit of the Holidays chairperson thanks contributors
To the editor:
The month of December brought an outpouring of community support this year for those in our beach community who were in need of assistance. We gave gifts and clothing to more than 100 children this year, and we couldn’t have done it without your support.
The auction was a great success, thanks to our committee members, and had some unique items that drew enthusiastic bidding. Some of the item highlights from the auction:
n John Albion was able to work with the Titusville Chamber of Commerce to get a once in a lifetime shuttle launch viewing in the VIP section at Kennedy Space Center which got heavy bidding.
n We had 1 dinner with the Firemen that got a lot of bidding, especially from the female attendees, and prompted the firemen to offer a second dinner on the spot to be auctioned off as well.
Robert Pittman donated 2 of his beautiful Handmade Wooden Chests, which are always a favorite and popular items.
We hope to continue to make our auctions more interesting by providing unique and exciting items so watch for our announcements next year when we start promoting the auction to see what we have in the works!
Our pancake breakfast couldn’t have been what it was without the support and sponsorship of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department, Costco, Sun Harvest, Sysco and Red Coconut, who provided the food, paper supplies and cooking for this event. We would also like to thank the K-Kids under Eric Tibbs and Kathy Trent, Jessie Titus, Mark Chidley, Marjorie Prasse, Ann Alsop, John Albion, Margaret Cowden and Norm Wells for volunteering at this event.
The gift-wrapping party had a great turnout for wrapping the many gifts that were donated or purchased for the kids. Everyone that came to this event deserves a great big thank you!
Now that Christmas is over, we turn our attentions to our next fund-raising event, Spirit of the Holidays Community Festival & Egg Hunt. This will take place on April 23 at Bay Oaks Recreational Area. We will have food, games, music, the egg hunt and a beach hat-decorating contest for the people of the community to enter and possibly win a prize. This event we hope will be fun for all ages, and we look forward to seeing you all there!
We will keep everyone updated with our monthly article in the Chamber Newsletter as well as our website: www.thespiritoftheholidays.org so if you want to check us out and see what is coming up or see if you can help us with one of our projects this is a great location to look.
Not wanting to leave people out I would like to thank the following businesses and individuals who made this year special for many families here on the island. If I miss anyone I apologize and want to thank you for your generosity this season.
They include Half Time Lounge; A Tropical Touch Salon; AFA Enterprises; Alpha Networks; Andrew Cochrane; Ann Alsop; Anne Dalton; Beach Bowl; Beach Pierside Grill; Best of Everything; Bow Tender; Broadway Palm Dinner Theater; Captain Tony’s Fishing Adventures; Century 21 Tripower; Contour Body Works; Corri Francesco; Costco; David Trelease; Diamondhead Beach Resort; Edison & Ford Winter Estates;
Edward Jones; Eric Tibbs; Esterra Salon & Spa; Firestone; Florida Everblades/Germain Arena; Florida Gulf Bank; Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce; Fort Myers Beach Fire District; Fort Myers Beach Observer; Fort Myers Beach Shrine Club; Francesco’s; Gavins Ace Hardware; Gerald & Beverly Knips; Ginni Smith; Good Time Charters & Tours; Guitar Center; Gulf Coast Coin & Jewelry; Gulf Coast Panama Jack; Gullwing Resort; Hampton Inn; Heidrick & Co.; Holiday Watersports; Hotheads on the Beach; Indian Creek Park; Island Girl; Island Sandpaper; Jay’s General Store; Jessie Titus; John & Laurie Albion; Jonathan Houser; Judy Haataja; Kathy Trent; K Kids; Key West Express; Knights of Columbus; Laguna Shores Homeowner’s Association; Lahaina Realty; Larry Pittman, CPA; Larry Wood; Lee County Sheriff’s Department; Lee County Sports Authority; Lorrie Wolf Florist; Lucille & Peter Spuhler; Pinchers Crab Shack; Margaret Cowden; Marilyn Quackenbush; Mark Chidley; Mid Island Watersports; Mike Joyce of Gulf Coast Coin & Jewelry; Mr. Music; Mutzie Prasse; Nancy & Dan Eaton; Norm & Linda Wells; One Flight Up Salon; Paula Kiker; Pink Shell Beach Resort; Pointe Estero; Publix of Fort Myers Beach; Red Coconut RV Park, LLP; Red Sox; Renee Mulloy; Resort at Marina Village; Robert Pittman; Robert Saunders and the staff of South Beach Grille; Ron Cox; Ron & Pauline Meyer; Roxie Smith: Ruth Abraham; Shannon Smith; Space Ghost; Sue Egony; Sun Harvest Citrus; Sysco; Tom & Fran Myers; Thomas & Mary Ball; Thomas Coyne; Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce; and Winn Dixie.
Amy Jane Mellott Houser
Chair Head
Spirit of the Holidays Committee