Giving Hope for the Holidays

By Hallandale Beach Mayor, Joy Cooper

December 16, 2021

Hope for the Holidays was a great success thanks to many of our partners! On Monday I had the opportunity to work with About ComYOUnity,Inc. a local non-profit that provides a hand up too many of the needy residents within South Broward. Our toy giveaway was one of the three giveaways that are scheduled.

Gulfstream Park graciously opened the Sport of Kings theatre to over 270 children. In addition to the space, they served cookies, cakes, lemonade and hot chocolate while the children gathered and waited for their gifts and enjoying a visit with Santa. The saying goes it takes a village and here are our village members that helped brightening up the lives of many children. Rodrigues Charites, The Big Easy Casino, Paul Bange Roofing, Dr. Amir’s Weight Loss and Metabolism Center, Florida Horseman’s Benevolent & Protective Association, Rotary Club of Hallandale Beach / Aventura, Higher Vision Ministries, Dunn’s River Island Café, Smokin Bones Chef Holmes Foundation, Five Below, Memorial Hospital, Hallandale Beach PAL, the team at our Hepburn Center and Eve Paul Chateau De Everose and more. Every child that attended receive three toys of their choice.

A special shout out goes to Eve Paul. She has been an amazing partner all year. If it were not for her many of the events that I have hosted over the past two years would not have taken place. Her production company is top notch.

The Rotary Club of Hallandale Beach / Aventura has also done amazing work. In addition to helping give out gifts this week they partnered with Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach Early Childhood Learning Center for a toy give away. Each child that attend the school will have a Merry Christmas. Also, Santa will be paying them a visit on his sleigh. Rotary’s sleigh is back after two years of a Covid hiatus. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be out visiting the city on Christmas Eve. Please visit the Rotary Club of Hallandale Beach / Aventura’s Facebook Page for the route and schedule.

Our Chief of Police Michel and our Police officers also have been busy brightening the lives of our school children. Due to Covid rather than doing Shop with a Cop at Walmart they did a hybrid event at the school where needy children wrote a letter to Santa to ask for what they wanted. The command staff gathered and delivered the holiday wishes.

I also need to thank our citywide staff who have adopted families this holiday. Our Hepburn Center social workers and staff compiled a list of families who without help would not be able to celebrate. If you want to help a family in need you can reach out to our center at 954-457-1460. Our center provides social services to many of our seniors and families. They also provide adult and after school activities.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns and ideas to make our City a better place, on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can E-mail me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit my Facebook Page: MayorJoyCooper. Like It! Friend It! Share It!