Toys needed: Guadalupe Center launches collection for Holiday Gift Shop

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Nov. 8, 2022 - PRLog -- Guadalupe Center is collecting gifts and monetary donations to brighten the holidays for children and teens in Immokalee.

Through Friday, Dec. 9, Guadalupe Center is accepting new, unwrapped donations of age-appropriate toys, games and other gifts for infants through teenagers. The nonprofit's annual Holiday Gift Shop provides gifts for more than 2,000 Guadalupe Center students and their siblings based on financial need.

Guadalupe Center relies on generous support from individuals, businesses, residential communities and civic groups to make the Holiday Gift Shop a success. With the help from volunteers, parents browse a selection of gifts allowing parents the opportunity to surprise their children on Christmas.

"Each year, our teachers and staff generate a wish list based on their conversations with students and parents, and also by reviewing lists of trendy gifts for children and teens," said Robert Spano, Guadalupe Center's vice president of programs. "In 2022, we are seeing more requests for educational games and learning tools, in addition to technology and toys featuring characters like princesses and superheroes."

Age-appropriate gift suggestions include:

• Infants and toddlers (0-2 years): infant gyms and bouncers, rattles, baby dolls of various ethnicities, stacking rings, light-up or musical toys and bath toys. Popular brands: Step-2, Baby Einstein and Leap Frog.
• Preschool-age children (3-5 years): play sets, building blocks, Play Doh, baby dolls of various ethnicities, remote-controlled cars and activity sets. Popular characters: Marvel, Disney, Shimmer and Shine, Sesame Street, Paw Patrol and PJ Masks.
• School-age children (6-12 years): cars and trucks, action figures, riding toys, arts and crafts sets, sports gear and science lab kits. Popular characters: Shopkins, Hatchimals, Pokemon, Disney, Marvel and Minecraft.
• Teenagers (13-18 years): wireless headphones or earbuds, Bluetooth speakers, Fitbits, portable chargers and mini drones. Popular gift cards: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Dunkin, McDonald's, Ulta and GameStop.

Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off through Dec. 9 at two locations in Collier County: Guadalupe Resale Shop, 12980 Tamiami Trail North, Unit 10, in Naples; and Guadalupe Center's van Otterloo Family Campus for Learning, 3655 Westclox St. in Immokalee. Additionally, monetary donations can be made securely online at GuadalupeCenter.org/donate (https://www.guadalupecenter.org/donate-now/).

For more information, please contact Haley Thalheimer, community outreach and donor relations coordinator, at HThalheimer@GuadalupeCenter.org or 239-657-7120.

About Guadalupe Center
Guadalupe Center is a purpose-driven nonprofit organization with proven success in creating endless possibilities for the students of Immokalee through education, as well as fostering personal and academic success that leads to economic independence. For more information, please visit GuadalupeCenter.org (https://www.guadalupecenter.org/) or call 239-657-7711.