Children in Brevard County’s foster care system and the Brevard C.A.R.E.S. abuse prevention program can look forward to gifts for the Holidays thanks to several local businesses and organizations, including Gatto’s Tires and Auto Service.  The company’s six locations throughout Brevard will be designated drop-off locations for Brevard Family Partnership’s annual Holiday gift drive that benefits the many children who will not be spending the Holidays in their own homes.

Local businesses, including EG&G, His Place Ministries, Indyne, Inc., Lockheed-Martin, faith groups from theBrevard Interfaith Coalition, and service men and women at Patrick Air Force Base will be collecting and donating toys, games and clothing for over 1,500 children who reside in foster homes, group homes, or with relative and non-relative caregivers, or being served by the Brevard C.A.R.E.S. prevention program. Also included in this effort are some of the children in the Independent Living program who have aged out of the formal foster care system. Without the compassion and support of these partners many children would have no gifts to open on their special holiday.  The goal is to have a minimum of one gift to give, per child, though every effort is made to fulfill three gift requests each.

Gatto’s Tires and Auto Service came on board this year to lend a hand after learning of the opportunity to provide a special contribution for children served through the child welfare programs provided by Brevard Family Partnership and its partners.  “We hope that having our locations as collection points for these children will encourage both our customers and the community at-large to help with this important effort,” said Gatto’s president, Pam Gatto.  “We’re a family business and our family is happy to be a part of what Brevard Family Partnership is doing for children and families in our community.”

New, unwrapped gifts for boys and girls from birth to 17 years can be dropped off at any of the Gatto’s Tires and Auto Service locations in Cocoa, Melbourne, Merritt Island, Palm Bay and Suntree-Viera through December 6. 

Gifts collected will be delivered to a central warehouse in Melbourne on December 7.  From there, Brevard Family Partnership staff and case managers from Children’s Home Society and Devereux will distribute the gifts to foster parents, caregivers and group homes in time for the Holidays. 

Businesses and organizations wishing to participate in Brevard Family Partnership’s gift drive can get more information by visiting www.fpocf.org or calling (321) 752-4650.

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Gift Collection Sites Include:

Gatto’s Tires and Auto Centers – 6 locations
855 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
510 North Cocoa Blvd., Cocoa
7205 Dolina Court, Melbourne (Suntree)
15 West Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne
2965 Bush Road, Melbourne (Lake Washington)
1103 Malabar Road, Palm Bay

Wrap-N-Pack
981 E Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32937

Beachside Physical Therapy-5 locations
1.)    2030 S Patrick Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, FL
2.)    1220 N Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL
3.)    3680 N Wickham Rd, Ste B,  Melbourne, FL
4.)    5445 Murrell Rd, Viera, FL
5.)    4270 Minton Rd, Palm Bay, FL