Have fun and donate to a worthy cause at holiday giveback event

AdventHealth Ocala is shown on Monday. All three Marion County hospitals are seeing an increase in hospitalizations as COVID-19 cases surge.

[Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 

If you’re looking for a new way to give back to the community during the holiday season, and have some fun while doing it, AdventHealth Ocala might have the perfect opportunity for you. 

The hospital this weekend will host its inaugural Holiday Giveback Event, “Caring for the Children in Our Community,”, featuring a slew of fun and festive activities including a hot chocolate bar, a kids’ craft station, face painting, balloon artists, live music by Jeff Jarrett, live dance performances, selfie wall crawl, and of course, pictures with Santa. 

The charity event, in partnership with the Public Education Foundation of Marion County and the AdventHealth Ocala Foundation, will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 19) at the Hospital’s Auxiliary Conference Center 1542 SW 1st Ave., Ocala.

Admission is free, but donations of gifts and essentials for needy children in the community are encouraged including toys, jackets, socks, underwear, boy’s gym shorts, and jogging pants, personal hygiene products, and warm clothing. 

The toy and clothing drive will benefit Marion County Public School’s Homeless Family Program, The Rock Program, a faith-based non-profit that provides basic hygiene products and clothing to middle and high school students, and AdventHealth Ocala Foundation.