An article listing all of the wonderful things that went on in Hernando County during the holiday season would be quite extensive, so here is just a handful of happy celebrations from local businesses, schools and organizations.
Explorer K-8 had a Kindergarten Holiday program. They had a few “special guests” including Santa and Olaf, Elsa & Anna from Frozen.
Fox Chapel Middle School provided needy families with Christmas dinner and gifts for all the children in the family, through their Christmas Angel Program. This year, they were able to provide dinner for twenty-two (22) families and Christmas gifts for sixty-eight (68) children.
For the third year in a row, Powell Middle School Choir performed with The Florida Symphony at the Christmas at Spring Hill Event hosted by the First United Methodist Church of Spring Hill. The choir also performed at Busch Gardens December 18th.
Weeki Wachee Chorus performed at various events around the county as well.
Vans, Cars and Trucks in Brooksville held a Christmas giveaway. They donated a 2009 Honda Odyssey minivan to the Life Center of Hernando with the assistance of Hernando County and other organizations.
Larry Van Fossen owner of Vans Cars & Trucks explained that what started out as a $3500 to $4000 vehicle giveaway morphed into something much more valuable with contributions from the community and a grant from the county. Hernando County chose TLC to be the recipient of a $3000 vehicle grant. Since Van Fossen was already in the process of procuring a vehicle, he just stepped up the quality of what they were looking for.
Van Fossen explained, “It did not stop there since vendors gave us their product and service at cost to make this vehicle the best it could be. Many hands were involved in this project… Tire and Auto Connection stepped in and gave a free year’s worth of oil changes as well.” ” Many hands make light work,” he added.
Van Fossen stated, ” As far as the vehicle is concerned, with a set of new tires, new brakes, new battery, oil change and associated items to make this vehicle totally ready, we had a very respectable 2009 Honda Odyssey that should serve TLC quite well.”
Luigi’s and WeCare provided holiday meals for veterans, hungry and homeless individuals. They also delivered meals to homebound individuals.
Home Instead Senior Care in Spring Hill teamed up with non-profit agencies and area retailers to sponsor Be a Santa to a Senior – a program that collects, wraps and delivers gifts to lonely and needy seniors in the Spring Hill and surrounding Hernando County area.
Wider Horizons School in Spring Hill continued their holiday traditions, collecting gifts throughout the entire school for seven needy families in Hernando County. Students filled an entire truck with gifts and the volunteers from St. Vincent de Paul had tears of appreciation in their eyes.
Students in 6th through 12th grade visited three retirement homes in the county singing Christmas Carols and bringing holiday cheer. This is a tradition that Wider Horizons has done for over thirty years, explained High School teacher Linda Parks. The students sang a wide range of carols from the traditional “Silent Night” to the upbeat “Jingle Bells.” They performed at Forest Oaks, Timber Pines and Brookdale.
When the students sang “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree,” they danced with the rhythm. One could tell that they enjoy this particular song. “The residents prefer the older carols,” said Parks. “One lady in the front had tears in her eyes when they were singing ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing.’ ”
On Friday afternoon the entire school joined in a 30 minute Christmas Caroling performance for family and friends. A group of 6th grade students played ‘Joy to the World’ on the bells, followed by the song rendition. There are always some recent graduates that show up for this event as it has been a tradition for them for throughout their years at the school.
All in all, it may now be January, but hopefully the kindness and generosity expressed during Christmastime will stick around awhile longer.