Heartland for Children's 16th Annual Rudolph Round-Up Toy Drive

The holidays are right around the corner and you can help make incredible holiday memories for over 1,500 local children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.

Heartland for Children is the local not-for-profit serving Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties that promotes the prevention of child abuse and oversees the provision of services for children who have been abused and/or neglected. These services include in-home family strengthening, adoption, case management, foster care and independent living.

Heartland for Children continues to coordinate the Annual Rudolph Round-Up Holiday Toy Drive to benefit local children who are receiving services through the foster care system. Last year over 1,700 children and teens were able to be served through generous donations from our community.

This year has brought a new way of life for us all. Despite the challenges, our community remains resilient, adapting to the new norms. Throughout it all, we have remained a caring, trusting and person-centric community. Heartland for Children is thankful for donors and their continued compassion and dedication to children in our community that are most in need.

To accomplish the goal of making holiday wishes come true for each child in care throughout Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties, Rudolph needs your help! They are looking for Rudolph Champions, who will commit to making a difference in the life of a child this holiday season by:

• sponsoring an individual child's wishes or wishes for a specific number of children that you designate

• sponsoring a toy drive individually; through your business, organization, school or faith community

• donating financially at heartlandforchildren.org/donate or via check to help purchase wishes

• fundraising through creative activities

In an effort to keep you safe and reduce COVID-19 exposure they are offering contactless opportunities, including financial donations where others can do the shopping for you, as well as options for online shopping and shipping of items. It is only through the continued and valued support of individuals, groups, organizations, faith communities and businesses - Rudolph Champions - that children's holiday wishes come true.

To make a commitment to be a Rudolph Champion, please complete the Rudolph Champion Commitment Form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rrchampion. You may also contact Vereuch Simmons at (863) 519-8900 ext. 214 or email [email protected] with any questions you may have.

Visit Heartland for Children's website at http://www.heartlandforchildren.org/rudolph to learn more about Rudolph Round-Up as well as other ways you may become connected with Heartland for Children. You can also keep up with all the great work being accomplished for our local children by following Heartland on social media. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.