Thanksgiving came early for 10 Lauderdale Manors families who were recipients of the annual WaterWorks 2011 Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway.

 

Young children, mothers and older adults met at the community’s recreation center days before the holiday. There, they met members of the WaterWorks 2011 staff who filled the vehicles of the assembled families with holiday goodies.

 

CH2M HILL, the consulting firm which manages the WaterWorks 2011 project for the City of Fort Lauderdale, donated a ham for each basket. WaterWorks staff provided other holiday favorites including sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, marshmallows, gravy, and an assortment of canned vegetables.

 

Residents were not only grateful for the baskets, they were generous with them.  One mother said she would share her basket with another needy family in her neighborhood. 

 

According to Lauderdale Manors Homeowners Association (HOA) President Edna Elijah, baskets were distributed to the elderly as well as to families headed by single mothers. Those who received baskets were referred to the HOA by the local school, the recreation center and from members of the community. 

 

“I would like to thank the WaterWorks 2011 team for their continued support of some of the needy families in our community,” Elijah said.  “Words cannot express how appreciative we are and we thank them again.”

 

WaterWorks 2011 staff members spent a lunch hour filling the Thanksgiving baskets for the families to enjoy.

 

“It was a real big team effort,” said Stacey Yacovone-Smith, WaterWorks 2011 office manager.  “Half of the volunteers wrapped the gift baskets while the other half filled them.”