Kids in North Fort Myers get the Christmas of their dreams

The North Fort Myers Civic Association and donations from the community helped to make Christmas special for quite a few children in the Suncoast Estates area.

Jushtin Turner is just one of the parents who waited for Santa to arrive with toys for his kids. “We are waiting for Santa…[looks at kids] isn’t that right?” Turner said.

As Turner waited with his kids, they were all excited. “Oh happy, it’s wonderful. It makes them feel so good,” he said.

All this because the North Fort Myers Civic Association made it possible for these kids to receive toys this Christmas.

Jennifer White is another parent whose kids received gifts. “The kids who don’t have much out here get a gift each kid at least… it’s more than I can do,” White said.

This year, more than ever before, Santa’s visits are making a difference. “It was hard for us to even get Christmas this year but we just got by and this… this will help,” said White.

So, on Sunday, all of that hard work paid off. The association had been hosting toy drives at several locations every single weekend for the past month. Jennifer Scott is the organizer. “There’s a lot of underprivileged people here and it makes their day… it makes their Christmas,” Scott said.

“Seeing their faces light up when they see Santa Claus and get their presents, it’s so worth it,” White said.

This was the sixth year that the community came together for the kids in North Fort Myers. This year, they added stops in the Palmona Park neighborhood. Scott says if the donations continue to multiply, they hope to include more neighborhoods each year.