Thank You to Everyone Who Contributed to our GAL Drive. We are happy to celebrate another successful year thanks to the kindness and the generosity of our friends, neighbors, clients. We are proud to say our doorbell at the office was busy ringing with kind folks dropping off gifts for children of all ages. The gifts ranged from gift cards, new clothing in all sizes, stuffed animals, dolls, trucks, books, games, crafts, puzzles, footballs, basketballs, baseballs, and even cosmetics for the teens. We had one neighbor make baby blankets and BVR ordered baby dolls with carriers and lovingly wrapped each baby in a handmade blanket. The GAL Christmas Tree at Bella Verde Realty was brimming with wonderful gifts and together with your help we collected, matched, and delivered 3 carloads of gifts, over $1,000.00 in gift cards, PLUS Bella Verde gifted $3,000.00 for the Children in the Guardian ad Litem Program of Osceola. The GAL Social Workers set aside a room in the Kissimmee Courthouse for Bella Verde Realty that they have affectionately dubbed “Santa’s Workshop”. The gifts collected are sorted by age and placed in the workshop for GAL families and the Social Workers to gift to the Children in the Program. The financial contribution helps to supply needed items that were not collected, and gift cards are perfect gifts for children that are near 18 and will be leaving the program to start life on their own. You see, at 18 these children no longer are in the foster care program and need to make their own living arrangements. Life on your own, at the tender age of 18, quite a sobering thought. The children cycling out of the program get gift cards to be used for haircuts, clothing, pots, pans, and items they will require to begin a new life without the support of the social workers or their foster families. It is warming to know that we all helped these kids to have a brighter holiday and helped some kids start their new lives. Bella Verde is blessed to live and work with so many generous folks. Thank You from the bottom of our hearts to all who contributed, helped, and prayed for a successful collection.