Hundreds of Toys Collected at Santa's Workshop for A Kid's Place in Brandon

Seventy-five tickets were available and 75 tickets were given away, making it a sell-out crowd for the Santa's Holiday Workshop at the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association in Brandon.

That means at least $750 worth of toys has been collected and will be distributed to the children housed at A Kid's Place in Brandon, a home for abused, neglected and abandoned children on Lithia-Pinecrest Road.

Admission to the annual Santa's Workshop was granted in exchange for a donated toy worth at least $10.

"This is only our fourth year doing this and the word is getting out," said Dawn Galia, the center's executive director. "More and more people are out there spreading the word, after they see what the event is all about."

Attendees this year circulated among 10 work stations to create such things as beaded candy cane ornaments, holiday bracelets, miniature stockings and ginberbread placemats.

Working with the guests were Center Place staff, board members and volunteers, including studets from the Brandon High School Interact club. Interact is Rotary International's service club for students ages 12-18 and each club is sponsored by a local Rotary Club. The Brandon High club is sponosred by the Rotary Club of Brandon, which holds Tuesday lunch meeitngs at Center Place.

"I get to meet new kids and help to make a difference," said Trinity Owens, 16, a Brandon High Interact club member.

Jacob Mundackal, 9, is a member of Boy Scouts Troop 109, which meets at Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church in Valrico, at 604 North Valrico Road.

His favorite part about the day's activities?

"I mostly liked [decorating] the cookies," he said, "and the drawing."