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Gifts Help Needy Residents Enjoy Happy Holidays

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

HUDSON - This year in Pasco County, several area businesses are finding different ways to spread holiday cheer.

Curves, 8806 State Road 52, is hosting a widescale charity effort on behalf of five local organizations.

"There's so much love in this club," said Beverly Jo Boles, manager of Curves fitness center in Hudson. "The ladies have been buying everything for our effort; everywhere you look you see toys, canned goods, baby clothes, everything."

Donations have included personal hygiene items and baby products such as diapers and formula for SOLVE, a Pasco organization for unwed and disadvantaged mothers. Club members have donated food baskets (complete with Christmas ornaments) for the food pantry at All Saints Lutheran Church in Hudson. They've gathered cat and dog food, leashes and other pet products, as well as cash donations, for the Humane Society.

They've brought in fleece blankets for the Suncoast Retreat in New Port Richey and Hudson House in Hudson. In addition, they've conducted an angel tree effort on behalf of residents at these nursing homes. Curves clients pick the name of a resident from a tree at the fitness center and fulfill that person's Christmas wish list.

"The ladies have been buying everything these residents want," Boles said.

Boles streamlined the donations by issuing December calendars to her clients that listed a suggested giving activity for each day.

"Every day it was suggested they do something, like bring a canned good," she said.

This marks the fourth year that Curves in Hudson has hosted its holiday giving effort; and it's one that Curves clients seem to anticipate.

"Beverly inspires us to give," said Joy Lotito, a Hudson Curves client.

Santa himself will make an appearance Sunday at Sunshine Laundromat, owned by Jack and Kathy Zipp. He will pose for photographs with children, and hand out small gifts to the children and candy canes to their parents.

"The kids who come are mostly the children of our customers, but we welcome other kids in the community as well," Kathy Zipp said.

Sunshine has welcomed Santa since its opening in 1991.

"It's the two hours every year we spend Christmas with our customers," Kathy Zipp said. "We keep some of the Santa pictures up in the store all year around."

Furthermore, the Zipps' children - 16-year-old Jackie, 11-year-old Katie and 5-year-old Johnny - always act as Santa's helpers during this event.

"This husband and wife are famous for playing Santa every year, with a big bag of presents," said Karen Ross, a Sunshine Laundromat customer and teacher at Hudson Elementary School.

Santa will visit from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Sunshine Laundromat, 6025 State Road 54 in Elfers Shopping Center. For information, call (727) 845-1258.

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