The White Doves Holiday Project honored and entertained volunteers, families and sponsors during the project’s annual grand opening event.

The festivities, held Nov. 28 at the Martin County Fairgrounds, marked the official opening of the White Doves “warehouse,” where food and toys are gathered to serve more than a thousand families.

During the event, White Doves recognized several sponsors and community partners:

• George and Dana Coates of EventMakers International, for providing the refreshments and the special staging for this year’s event.

• White Doves co-chairs Tom and Lisa Haley of Buy the Hour Builders and Body Sculpting of South Florida, for sponsoring the event.

• Dave Riley for coordinating the many White Doves fund-raising activities at Vought Aircraft Industries.

During the event, several groups and individuals also made significant monetary presentations to White Doves, including Linda Braswell of Braswell Bail Bonds, Matt Melondy and Amy Snyder with LMK Wealth Management, and Palm Cove Women’s Club.

This year, the festivities featured the traditional performance by the Warfield Elementary Chorus as well as a special performance by Florida Arts and Dance, a new affiliated agency of United Way of Martin County. Also, for the first time, Beth Elias of WPTV-Channel 5 was the emcee.

Florida Arts & Dance, under the direction of Genevieve Lagratta, performed selections from “The Nutcracker Suite” as well as Irish step dance and jazz ensembles. The Warfield Elementary Chorus, led by Elliott Harris, performed cheerful holiday songs.

Then, to the delight of children of all ages, Santa Claus arrived in an antique fire engine thanks to Martin County Fire-Rescue.

“White Doves relies on so many groups and individuals,” said project coordinator Anne Lalley. “Everyone can find a role in some facet of the project, and the grand opening is just one way we can show the public how much is involved.”

ABOUT WHITE DOVES

The White Doves Holiday Project serves as a central clearinghouse for donated food and toys at holiday time. The massive undertaking is a project of Martin Volunteers, a program of United Way of Martin County, and pools the resources of dozens of volunteers, community groups, agencies, families, businesses and faith-based and civic organizations.

White Doves Holiday Project is expecting to serve about 1,100 Martin County families this year. Depending on amount of donations that White Doves receives, families get to choose two to four toys per child and receive the staples for a holiday meal, and a turkey or ham.

Donations of food, toys, holiday decorations and money can be dropped off at the White Doves warehouse, Building B at the Martin County Fairgrounds, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Dec. 18.

Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation may send it to White Doves Holiday Project, PO Box 362, Stuart, FL 34995.

More information is available at www.martinvolunteers.org/whitedoves or by calling (772) 220-4472.