The Rainbow Family and Friends Club of The Villages working with the Guardian ad Litem program provided Christmas presents for more than 150 children living in foster care or group homes in Lake, Marion, Sumter and surrounding counties.
Club member Jill Schwartz has organized the event since they adopted this annual program in 2010. Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers are advocates for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned as they are maneuvered through the court system.
Rainbow Club member and GAL volunteer Gae Pensabene brought the needs of these children to the attention of the club and they decided to make it their project.
“Our members are so generous,” said Schwartz.“$25 is the suggested amount per child, but many of our participants spend more than that.”
The GAL holiday project works like the angel trees. Participants receive the age and gender of the child, they shop and wrap and bring the gifts to Schwartz’s home. Pensabene makes sure the packages get to the children who range in age from infants to seventeen.
“One of my two cats loves ribbon and wrapping paper,” said Schwartz. “So my garage becomes a storage unit during this time.”
Schwartz, a resident of the Village of Caroline, will continue to chair the annual project.
“I just love it. It is very fulfilling and I really enjoy every minute of it.” The number of participants has grown every year. “The first year we gave presents to seventy-five children. This year we covered every child in the region,” said Schwartz.
The Rainbow Family and Friends club started in The Villages 10 years ago. In addition to their annual holiday project, they contribute to local charities throughout the year.
Learn more about the club at http://www.rainbowfamilyvillagesfl.com/
