The Spirit of Christmas spreads through Southwest Florida

Author: Christina Lusby
Published: Updated:

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The “Spirit of Christmas” is sweeping through Southwest Florida.

The local organization collects donations and lets struggling families shop for Christmas.

In the last two lines at Wal-mart there is a slow marching line, friendly faces and everlasting hugs. Jim Jamison calls this “The Christmas Parade.”

“The Spirit of Christmas is to try and bring some joy and some happiness to families at Christmas time,” said Jamison.

The organization began helping one family 15 years ago. Tuesday WINK News was there as The Spirit of Christmas made the wishes of 150 families come true. This year the group raised $30,000.

“We’ve got families that have no money because there’s cancer, there’s illness, there is something in the family and all of their money is gone.”

Phyllis Berner was shopping for a family member with a rare disease.

“Ruby Joe has severe aplastic anemia and also has beginning stages of MDS,” said Berner. She tells WINK News everything in the home has to be sanitized daily. “We are just grateful to get all these cleaning supplies, things she is going to have to have when she comes home, and it’s been such a blessing.”

With no suit, Jamison is a real life Santa Claus, delivering presents that don’t always fit in a bag.

Jamison is helping a mother of four, currently living in a car, find a place they can afford. They are in the process of helping fix it up.

“We have a mother that is living under terrible conditions, and as of last night, we got her a house, got beds…”

The Spirit of Christmas raises all its money in one day at the American Legion.

If you would like to donate to the Spirit of Christmas Foundation, click here.

You can also donate to a cause created for Ruby Joe who is battling the rare disease, by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

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