The Crewe of Hernando DeSoto turned their pirate ship into a sleigh today, delivering toys and joy for Manatee County students.
DeSoto Queen Denver Romano and DeSoto Princess Megan Mitchell joined the Crewe as they made stops at Palm View K-8, Johnson K-8 and Bayshore Elementary.
Since 2013, Kendra Wingate has enlisted her family and friends, colleagues, baseball teams, Girl Scout troops and community members to fulfill wishes of Manatee County students.
The wish lists are provided by school social workers. They’re posted on a Facebook group called “Every Child is Worth Something”.
Kendra is the daughter of retired Manatee County educators and a mom to two boys, who help her with the annual grassroots gift-giving campaign from start to finish.
She wants to show her sons the power of giving is stronger than receiving, and give back to the community where she and her husband grew up. The Wingates both graduated from Southeast High School.
This year, 61 students will have a brighter holiday thanks to the generosity of others! They also delivered hundreds of new toys and gently used girls' clothing to gift giving initiatives at Bayshore Elementary School.