FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For additional information contact:
Niki Smith LeVasseur
Central and Southwest, Fla., November 15, 2024 – Crews Bank & Trust branches in Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota Counties are once again serving as collection sites for Christmas gifts for children in need. The donated gifts will be distributed through Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and the Florida Guardian ad Litem 20th Circuit Foundation.
“Opening our doors as gift collection sites during the Christmas season is one of my favorite holiday traditions,” shared Elizabeth Hernandez, SVP, Director of Retail and Business Banking. “It is so amazing to see the generosity of our bank teams, customers and area residents.”
By providing a brand-new gift, something many children often overlook, the community can help less fortunate children believe that someone cares and that the magic of the holiday season hasn’t passed them by.
The Crews Bank & Trust locations accepting unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots collection include:
- Arcadia East branch, 2747 S.E. Highway 70, Arcadia, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
- Gulf Cove branch, 12651 S. McCall Rd., Port Charlotte, open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday.
- Cape Haze branch, 8725 Placida Rd., #10, Placida, open 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday.
Toys for Tots is among America’s top-rated charities. The program is run totally by volunteers under the leadership of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The Toys for Tots motto is, “Every child deserves a little Christmas.”
The Toys for Tots toy drive ends in early December.
For the Salvation Army and Guardian ad Litem programs, first names and ages of area children in need are written on wish list cards. Customers and visitors to the Bank are invited to select one or more of the cards and purchase appropriate gifts for the children.
The Salvation Army, an evangelical Christian organization, has been supporting those in need since 1865. Nearly 33 million Americans receive assistance from the Salvation Army each year through an array of social services ranging from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.
Salvation Army wish lists are at the following locations:
- Peachland branch, 24163 Peachland Blvd., Port Charlotte, open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday.
- Punta Gorda branch, 2331 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday.
- Venice branch, 207 S Tamiami Trail, Venice, open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 8:30 – 5:30 on Friday.
- Sarasota branch, 15 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.
The statewide Guardian ad Litem Program is supported by Voices for Kids, a nonprofit organization. The Guardian ad Litem program consists of community volunteers and professionals who advocate on behalf of abused, neglected or otherwise at-risk children.
Guardian ad Litem wish lists are at the following locations:
- Murdock branch, 1100 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday.
- North Port branch, 4300 Aidan Lane, North Port, open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday.
- Parkside branch, 3002 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday.
The Salvation Army and the Guardian ad Litem gift drives conclude on Thursday, Dec. 5.
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Crews Bank & Trust team members invite customers and community members to share the spirit of the holidays by donating new toys for local children in need. Pictured with the Toys for Tots collection box at the Gulf Cove branch are (from left): Joe Cataldo, Englewood Area President; Vonda Gardner, Teller Specialist; Renee Maines, Lead Teller; Claudia Young, Lead Teller; Ann Marie Gross, Teller Specialist; Karen Current, Residential Loan Originator; and Wilkens Barolette, Retail Operations Manager. Toys for Tots donation boxes are also on display at the bank's Cape Haze and Arcadia branches, while wish lists for gifts to be distributed by the Salvation Army and Guardian ad Litem are available at the Peachland, Punta Gorda, Venice, Sarasota, Murdock, North Port and Parkside branches.