Santa Sled Fest seeking donations
The annual Santa Sled Festival is right around the corner. Each year the Christmas giveaway, which is hosted by the Des Aimes Social Club of Florida Inc. and Plant City Black Heritage, helps hundreds of families have a jolly holiday. The groups give away bicycles, toys, clothing and food to families and local youth.
This year’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 21 at Marie B. Ellis Park, 601 E. Laura St. They are still in need of turkeys, hams and bicycles for the families, so any donations would be welcomed. For more information on donating, contact Sharon Moody at 813-453-7134.
Hungry Howies owner to help local kids celebrate Christmas
Ali Sobh, owner of the Hungry Howies store at 208 N. Alexander St., wants to make sure Plant City kids get what’s on their Christmas wish lists.
Sobh is asking the community to nominate 10 kids who come from less-fortunate families in the area so that he can take them on a shopping trip the week of Christmas and make their holidays a little brighter. Though he’s no stranger to feeding families around Thanksgiving time, which he started doing while living and working in Michigan in the past, Sobh wants to continue giving back and start a new holiday tradition here in his hometown.
“To me, it meant the world to see people smile,” Sobh said.
If you wish to nominate your family or a family you know of, call Sobh at 586-441-1814 or email aksobh7@gmail.com.
Charleene Closshey fundraising for UFBPC
This year, if you add Charleene Closshey’s new album to your Christmas playlist, you can also help the United Food Bank of Plant City feed families during the holiday season.
Closshey, a Plant City native, recently released “Christmas Time is Here” and is donating 500 signed CDs to the food bank to be sold to the general public. The album features the radio single “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” as well as her take on well-known classics like “Good King Wenceslas,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and more.
Each CD costs $15 and all proceeds benefit the UFB. Cash or checks are accepted.
