Senators community in Lewes supports local Delaware Guidance Services families
More than 160 at-risk children and their families had a happier Christmas this year thanks to the Senators Gives Back - DGS Children’s Fundraising Event. The event supported the Lewes office of Delaware Guidance Services, a nonprofit organization that provides therapy and counseling to vulnerable children ages 3 to 18. Over $20,000 in toys, clothes, outerwear, grocery gift cards, and financial donations was raised to make children’s Christmas wish lists come true and to provide emergency support to children and families served by DGS. Many thanks to the efforts and generosity of Senators residents in Lewes and community businesses from Lewes and Rehoboth.
The event started last November when Lewes DGS therapist Diana Padula-Carbone mentioned to the Senators Ladies Walking Group she participates in that many of the children served by the organization came in during cold winter months without jackets, hats, gloves, and appropriate shoes to keep them warm. The group quickly assembled a coat and outerwear drive, inviting Senators neighbors to donate at a group happy hour. The response was quick and unprecedented. In a few short weeks, the group had collected over $5,000 in toys, jackets, shoes, clothes and grocery gift cards.
This year the group decided to go big. The Senators community is sold out of all 229 lots, and many now have full- and part-time residents.
“DGS counselors secretly collected the Christmas wishes of their young clients, who wished for everything from clothes and shoes to toys of princess dolls; trucks; bicycles; basketball, football and hockey gear; guitars; and board and video games,” said Rosemary Budd, one of the event organizers. The wishes were hung on a snowflake tree where Senators residents could make a child’s Christmas wishes come true by purchasing and wrapping gifts for a specific child. “The response and generosity from Senators was amazing with over $20,000 donated. We even had friends and businesses from outside the Senators community that asked for a child’s wish list snowflake so that they could help to put some sparkle into the Christmas season for local children in need,” said Budd.
DGS Executive Director Bruce Kelsey, LCSW, said, “Thank you, Senators community for your generous contribution of toys, clothing and monetary donations to support the children that we serve. Because of these thoughtful gifts, DGS families were able to enjoy their holidays without the pain of not being able to provide toys for their children. It's a wonderful gift that you have bestowed upon them, and for that we are so very grateful!”
Scott Selby, LCSW, director of therapists at DGS Lewes, said, “Thanks to the incredible generosity of the community here at Senators, many, many children right here in the Lewes area got to experience the joy of Christmas morning.”
The following Lewes and Rehoboth businesses also contributed to the effort: Bethany Blues, Bling Salon and Spa, Browseabout Books, Casa Amici, Crystal Restaurant, DiFebo’s Italian Grill, Eden, Fisher’s Popcorn, Fork + Flask at Nage, Hammerheads, Henlopen City Oyster House, Irish Eyes, Kick n’ Chicken, K&S Nails and Spa, Lewes Puzzles, Made Ya Look Salon and Day Spa, Matt’s Fish Camp, Papa Grande’s, Pat’s Pizza, Scandinavian Occasion, The Movies at Midway, The Pickled Pig, and Valhalla. The silent auction donations included a limited-edition signed/numbered print from local artist and Senators residents Jay and Joann Eberle, a jewelry basket from Glitz by Trish and Senators resident Stacey Stolp, a Winter Survival Kit from The Funky Lady, and Chris Coviello’s Baskets and Linzer torte cookie. The All Saints’ Thrift Shop in Rehoboth generously donated $750 for the DGS children on behalf of the volunteer efforts of Senators resident Beth Amann.
