LARGO, Fla. — One local charity is doing its part to make this Christmas an enjoyable one for 150 families in the Tampa Bay area.
Miracle By The Bay gathered donations to gift around 1,000 people Christmas dinner and presents. The local charity organization helps those with disabilities all year round. This holiday season, the charity faced numerous challenges with donations drastically down.
"The reason we do this is because there is a tremendous amount of need," Matt Walker, the president of Miracle By The Bay, said.
Bags of food were loaded and presents were packed into a long line of cars Wednesday evening. Those with Miracle By The Bay held their annual holiday toy and food distribution in Largo to make sure everyone can have a happy holiday.
"It takes an opportunity of a miracle to do this," Walker said.
Walker explained Miracle By The Bay gives back to those with disabilities. They have a baseball league that allows disabled people to play when they otherwise wouldn't have a chance. The goal of their food and toy distribution is to do the same: provide for those who need it.
Parents who showed up to receive gifts showed their appreciation for the organization.
"I’m grateful to get whatever I'm given," one parent, Melissa Ringelholtz, said.
Providing these presents wasn’t easy because those with the organization explained donations were down.
"One of the challenges we found with the foundation this year is there is a lot less being donated by the community that usually can donate," Laurie Lupcho, an executive board member for Miracle By The Bay, explained.
Normally, Miracle By The Bay receives donations from organizations like Metropolitan Ministries, but that wasn’t an option this year.
"They just weren’t able to do that this year because they don’t have it either," Lupcho said.
Thankfully "Save A Lot" donated food they never sold, providing a miracle this organization needed.
"When we saw that, I just about broke. I was like are you kidding?" Walker said.
Metropolitan Ministries explained their donations are down 20 percent from last year.
"At the same time, we have more need coming to us," Justin Burke, a spokesperson for Metropolitan Ministries, said.
That's why organizations are making miracles happen by giving the precious gift of a happy holiday season.
"Just one less worry we have to worry about in the holiday season," Ringelholtz added.
Metropolitan Ministries explained they are still accepting toys, turkeys and hams. Anyone can drop off a donation at their sites through Christmas Eve.