Give Back with Donation Drives This Winter Season
This season, bring out the giving spirit for those in need by donating to local charity drives. The holidays can be stressful for many families across the United States. In Escambia County alone, more than one thousand people are experiencing homelessness, according to Opening Doors Northwest Florida’s 2024 Point in Time (PIT) count statistics report.
With many individuals in our community having limited access to basic necessities, local organizations have opened up their charities to host special winter or holiday donation drives. Let’s give the gift of community and demonstrate that the true spirit of the season lies in the love and support we show one another. This holiday season, we invite you to think of those in need by contributing to some of these local nonprofit organizations making a difference in our community.
Fill The Mayflower
Manna Food Pantries will host the 17th annual Fill the Mayflower food and funds drive on November 22 from 5 am to 6 pm at Cordova Mall in Pensacola. Gather around the Mayflower truck and help fill it with food for families, seniors, veterans, children and individuals in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. All are invited to come donate non-perishable food items and monetary donations. A $25 gift provides five days of food for a child in need. Donations will be offloaded from cars by volunteers with no need to leave your vehicle! Visit mannahelps.org for a full list of the most wanted food items and more information. Cordova Mall is located at 5100 N. Ninth Ave. in Pensacola.
Holiday Wish Card Drive
Children’s Home Society of Florida’s annual Holiday Wish Card Drive is back. Brighten a child’s spirit this holiday season by donating toys, gift cards, clothing, crafts, hygiene and beauty products, sports equipment and shoes. If you would like to participate, please reach out to chuntell.peterson@chsfl.org to receive a child’s wish card. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4:30 pm at 17 S. Devilliers St. in Pensacola. The deadline for donations is December 13. For more information on this year’s Holiday Wish Card Drive, visit chsfl.org/events/holiday-wish-card-drive.
Walmart Angel Tree and Red Kettle
On your next trip to the grocery store, look out for a giant Christmas tree covered in angel tags. The numbers on the tag match with a needy child in your area. Pick a tag to find the child’s first name, age and gender. The Salvation Army asks sponsors to take the time on their regular shopping trip to find gifts for one or more of the children on the tree. Gifts from sponsors should be unwrapped and unopened prior to donation. Individuals can participate in the program in person or online. Drop off locations and online wishlists can be found at salvationarmyusa.org.
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve: Toys for Tots
You’re probably familiar with the giant boxes in stores that quickly fill in the weeks leading up to Christmas; after all, Toys for Tots has been around since 1947. More than 75 years ago, Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks was asked by his wife Diane to take her handcrafted dolls to an agency that would give them to children in need. After learning that no organization like that currently existed, Diane told him to start one. Since then, Toys for Tots has grown into a nationwide program benefiting children all over the country. To contribute, please bring unopened, undamaged and unwrapped toys to one of the many drop-off locations in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties. Toys can be dropped off now to December 7. Toys will be distributed across the Pensacola area by December 18. Visit toysfortots.org to learn more and locate a toy drop off location near you.
Christmas Connection
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida’s annual gift drive is back for its 45th year. Christmas Connection spans from Tallahassee to Pensacola offering help to families across the Panhandle and Big Bend areas. On average, the program helps 4,800 people each year. Adopt a family through their website to receive a list of needs and clothing sizes for a family. Monetary gifts can be made online. Visit ccnwfl.org to find a drop-off location near you and to get a families wishlist. Monetary gifts can also be made online.
Santa’s Workshop
Santa needs help filling his workshop with new and unwrapped gifts for children at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida. Each year, Santa’s Workshop helps support the families who call our local Ronald McDonald House “home” during the holiday season. The children staying at the House will be given these gifts from Santa so they and their families can rest easy as the children receive their necessary medical treatments. Help stock the workshop by donating new and unwrapped gift items from the Ronald McDonald House Holiday Wish List. Donations can be dropped off anytime at the Ronald McDonald House of NWFL located at 5200 Bayou Blvd. in Pensacola. If you would like to donate but can’t make it to the House to drop off your gifts, you can shop the Holiday Wish List on Amazon at amzn. to/36GwrvC. For questions about Santa’s Workshop, visit rmhc-nwfl.org or contact Cindy at (850) 477-2273.
OnBikes Pensacola Winter Bike Build
Join OnBikes Pensacola for the 2024 Winter Bike Build on Sunday, November 23 from 1 to 3 pm and 3:30 to 5:30 pm at the Pensacola Bay Center. All attendees must be registered for the shift they would like to work. Volunteers cannot participate if they have not registered in advance.
Don’t know how to assemble a bike? Don’t worry about it. OnBikes crew members will help teach and guide volunteers to turn screws, pump tires, and make children’s dreams come true. OnBikes needs volunteers to open boxes, turn screws, manage trash, load up the bikes and help make the magic happen! Building a bike is surprisingly easy. Volunteers work on an assembly line—do your part, then slide the bike to your neighbor. This event is family-friendly, but all attendees must be registered in advance. For more information and a link to register, visit onbikespensacola.org.