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A Holiday Event Can Use Your Help

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 24, 2007

THONOTOSASSA - John Amato adores kids. He finds no greater joy than putting smiles on the faces of children, especially during the holidays.

For more than 20 years, Amato, the owner of N-E-Where Transport in Tampa, has made it his mission to purchase and deliver toys to patients at Shriners Hospitals for Children - Tampa, as well as other locations throughout the Tampa Bay area where youngsters with illnesses, disabilities or other disadvantages are served.

"It just makes me feel good," said Amato, a Riverview father of two grown children and grandfather of one.

So it came as no real surprise to fellow Riverview resident Jon Buckles when Amato jumped onboard to help him organize and participate in last year's community-sponsored Christmas party for about 70 children and their families at Everyday Blessings, a nonprofit adoption agency in Thonotosassa.

"He had top-dollar toys for all the kids, toys he bought himself," said Buckles, who chaired the festivities. "He's one of the biggest-hearted men I know. He cannot say 'No.' "

However, as Buckles prepares for this year's Everyday Blessings event - billed as a holiday reunion for which more than 500 invitations have been sent and to which 40 businesses are contributing their services - he won't be counting on Amato's notorious generosity.

"He's had a really bad year, so it would be hard for him to furnish toys for at least 300 foster and adopted children and their families," Buckles said.

Sister Clair LeBoeuf, Everyday Blessings' founder and director, was taken aback by Amato's bigheartedness last year.

"We were just amazed because he didn't give out small stuff. They were things like bicycles and computers," she said. "With that kind of generosity, it's easy to see why his pockets aren't that deep this year. In my view, he is a saint."

So instead, Buckles is asking for public donations of new, unwrapped, good-quality toys appropriate for children ages 3 months to teens. Checks payable to Everyday Blessings Family Reunion may be mailed to P.O. Box 1264, Thonotosassa FL 33592; debit or credit card contributions can be made at www.every bless.org/reunion.

Toys may be dropped off through Friday at N-E-Where Transport, 3308 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., or by calling (813) 626-2888 (a driver from the company will pick them up). Items also may be taken to the Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, 12125 N. 56th St.; Golden Corral, 815 Providence Road; and Chick-fil-A, 11325 Causeway Blvd.

"You can make a difference in the level of impact we are going to have on these kids," said Buckle, who has volunteered more than 1,000 hours in the project.

On tap for the daylong party are hayrides, remote-controlled mini-truck races, a puppet show, arts and crafts, a pie-eating contest, the Riverview High School Chorus, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and the arrival of Santa. An assortment of food also will be served.

"It's going to be a tremendous event," LeBoeuf said.

Pilot Bank marketing manager Laura Blackwell helped design the invitation and marketing materials for the event.

"Because it helps kids is why I'm involved," Blackwell said. "I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of happy faces."

For details, call Buckles at (813) 677-9128.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie may be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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