NORTH WILDWOOD – The annual Gift From Gia program, coordinated by the Chiarella family of North Wildwood, has started for the holiday season. Each year, Vincent, Beth and Mia Chiarella collect toys and presents from area schools, civic organizations and individuals and distribute them to sick and needy children who are forced to spend their holidays in Camden’s Cooper Hospital. The Gift From Gia program is calling on the local community to support the program through donations of unwrapped gifts for children aged newborn through teenager.
Each donated gift is labeled “A Gift From Gia.” Gia Chiarella was a lifelong resident of the Wildwoods who passed suddenly on Dec. 29, 1998 at age 13.
“We spent our last Christmas with Gia at Cooper Hospital, which is the sending hospital for severe trauma cases from Cape May County and experienced the heartbreak firsthand. The staff was wonderful to the patients and their families, but at this most festive time of year, the despair is completely overwhelming.”
The Gift From Gia program was a way to fill the empty spot under Gia’s tree, and has turned into a tribute to Gia. Each donation is tagged ‘A Gift From Gia’ and as they are dispersed, the families naturally ask who Gia is. The staff tells the patients Gia’s story, and so her name and memory will go on and on.
The holidays are an extremely difficult time for us, but the outpouring of love, compassion, and generosity, all in our Gia’s name, helps more than any of you could ever understand, and we are forever grateful to all of you.
Donations may be dropped off (unwrapped) at any of the schools in the Wildwoods or at GIA restaurant, 7400 Ocean Ave, Wildwood. Crest.
For more information, call 729-5959 or 675-6033.
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