Dear SCLO,

I wanted to tell you how emotional it was for me when I dropped toys and kids’ clothes off at your office today.  A woman there asked to hug me and I was just so touched and overwhelmed by the true thanks she felt toward me, I found myself driving back up to Ellenton in tears..but happy tears.

I'd had a terrible week and a book I read recently said if you are feeling sad, go do something for someone else and that will lift you up. And I'm here to say it truly did.

Now that I know right where you are I won't be needing the drop off location in Lakewood Ranch anymore.  I didn't know earlier that you needed diapers and personal hygiene items for your clients. So now I'm pledging to you that at least once a month I will be coming down with donations for SCLO.

 Thank you for helping me to be a better person.

This is an email received from a donor who visited our office for the first time this week.  It was so nice for the staff and volunteers to receive this feedback (as well as the donations of course).  We felt that her comments are a gift to us.

We are blessed to have a number of people and businesses supporting SCLO by organizing toy drives or other collections or donating proceeds.  By supporting these businesses and their initiatives you'll be directly helping struggling families and individuals in our community.

James Griffith Salon, 4011 Clark Road, Sarasota is collecting diapers and feminine hygiene products.  During December they will also be a collection point for toys.

People's Pottery is holding an open house on Sunday, December 19th between 2:30pm and 4:30pm when 20% of their sales will be given to Second Chance-Last Opportunity.  This is an annual event and we hope people will come out to do their holiday shopping and support this great store and SCLO. (St. Armand's Circle)

The Sarasota Farmers' Market is holding a toy drive on Saturday, December 11th.  There will be a collection point at the intersection of Main and Lemon between 7am and 1pm.  We'll be at our regular booth that day too, outside the Gator Club, so don't forget to stop by to say hello!

Shapes Total Fitness, 8219 Cooper Creek Blvd, Lakewood Ranch is a permanent collection point for food and toys.

The following businesses are additional drop off points for unwrapped toys until December 17th:

Butterfly Effect, 451 N. Orange Avenue (Citrus Square)

Nicole Salon on Palm, 65 S. Palm Avenue

Palm Cafe and Grill, 1756 N. Honore Avenue (at 17th Street)

Starbucks, 3571 Bee Ridge Road

Thank you for supporting these businesses, and SCLO!