Light the Way helped two local families with gifts this past Christmas

Ormond Beach Observer
Your Town

Light the Way delivered wrapped Christmas gifts and gift cards to two families, each with a mother battling cancer, on Dec. 19.

This effort involved Light the Way for Teens, a new division which was founded by 17-year-old Sarah Heaster, who collected clothing, shoes and gifts from the children's wish lists with the help of local teens and classmates from Spruce Creek High School. One of the mother's helped by the effort is a patient of Halifax Health, and the other is a patient at AdventHealth.

Light the Way is an Ormond Beach charity, founded by Angela and Lewis Heaster, that helps cancer patients and their families with daily needs such as housekeeping, transportation, meals and taking care of pets. To learn more, visit lightthewayvolusia.org

Rotary brings gifts to local assisted living facility

The Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach adopted residents at the Gold Choice Assisted Living Facility this Christmas as the club's December service project, according to a press release.

Laraine Burns, Joyce Pepin, Santa, Monique and Aubrey Amos with OBPD Corporal Jay Brennan and Officer Cierra Devane. Courtesy photo

Rotary Elves Laraine Burns, Becky Parker, Joyce Pepin and Monique Amos, along with Ormond Beach Police Department's Santa On Patrol and special Princess Elf Aubrey Amos, presented the assisted living facility's residents with gifts as a way to let them know they were not forgotten. Santa and Mrs. Claus visited each room with a few OBPD officers and passed out candy canes too.

In addition, several Rotarians also visited the residents on their own to personally deliver gifts. More than 40 residents requested and received presents, the press release states.

Also in December, ten Rotarians and family members completed a quarterly cleanup of Granada Boulevard between U.S. 1 and Nova Road, and collected several large bags of trash, according to a press release. It is part of the Adopt-A-Highway program. The group later met at Fletcher's Irish Pub for lunch.

To learn more about Rotary, visit RotaryDOB.com

Laraine Burns, Steve Burns, Chris Conlon and Jennifer King helped keep Granada Boulevard clean. Courtesy photo

OBTS Lions give back during month of December

December proved to be a busy month for the Ormond-by-the-Sea Lions Club, as members hosted their annual Breakfast with Santa, held a community holiday party and distributed donations to nine different organizations.

Lions Joyce Culverhouse, Mary Yochum, Mr. Lion (Lion Melinda Uebel), Santa Lion Les Walter, District Governor Greg Evans, Bobbie Cheh and Richard Culverhouse. Courtesy photo

The Breakfast with Santa was held in partnership with the St. Brendan's Catholic Church Knights of Columbus at its monthly pancake breakfast, according to a press release. Children received gifts from Santa —also known as Lion Les Walter — and "Mr. Lion," who is also known as Lion Melinda Uebel. Helper elves aided in the effort as well.

The Lions Club held a community holiday party at Alfie's Restaurant on Dec. 2, which was attended by 75 people.

The Club also donated $500 to the Conklin Center, $150 to St. Brendan's Outreach, $150 to Halifax Urban Ministries, $250 to the Ormond-by-the-Sea Firefighters Association and $100 to each of the five Ormond-by-the-Sea churches, the press release stated.

Santa hands out ornaments to Lions Harry and Gwen Dean. Courtesy photo

On Dec. 7, 12 members took two hours shifts ringing the Salvation Army bell at the Ormond Beach Mall Publix. The Lions Club also joined with the Ormond-by-the-Sea Eagles and Riverview United Methodist Church to donate clothes, food and toys for families in need, and Ortona Elementary School students. Call 441-4421 for more information.