Santa will continue his annual tradition this year by making a special stop at the Lopez Exceptional Student Center with gifts from the North Brandon Y.
Every Christmas, the North Brandon Family YMCA brings holiday cheer to special needs children in Seffner. The visit to the Lopez Exceptional Student Center, for students with learning, language, neurological, developmental and behavioral disorders, is something the students and North Brandon Y members look forward to each year.
North Brandon members and board members have the opportunity to select one of the centers 55 students from an “angel tree” and purchase that student’s top wish list items. Wish lists range from stuffed animals and toy cars to socks and clothing.
“Members start asking about it in early November. They look forward to the program each year.” Said Ashlyn Moore, Aquatics Director for the North Brandon Y and project lead for the Santa program.
Members purchased presents for all 55 students at the Center, and today Santa will be making a very special visit to deliver the gifts. The experience is meaningful for both the students and the Y. “Seeing their eyes light up, they are so excited. The joy they have. It just seems so little but it means so much to them,” said Ashlyn.
In addition to presents for the students, the North Brandon Y has partnered with Colonial Distributing, which for the 3rd year in a row, will provide a hot lunch to the entire staff at Lopez ESC to thank them for their hard work and dedication.
Major thanks to our donors, staff and volunteers who serve as holiday heroes year after year! The Tampa Y values diversity and inclusion and is committed to empowering all community members – regardless of ability – to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.