Source: The Tampa Tribune
On December 25, 1999, The Tampa Tribune reported that the Dover Community Council in Dover, Florida held a Christmas event for the children of migrant workers and others who were in need of assistance. The event, begun in 1997, was held at the Dover Elementary School and included a Spanish-speaking Santa that handed gifts out to the children. School Principal Kathleen Carr stated: "It's wonderful to see the faces of those kids...They were just thrilled to death." Approximately 1000 gifts were purchased with donations from local businesses and with funds raised by the Council's flea market in October. Elisa Ibarra, whose two children attended the event, stated: "I'm a single parent, and I'm not able to get anything for my kids. These will be their only Christmas presents...It's just so nice that they do this for us." The event has grown each year, with 460 kids showing up in 1997 and all 1000 gifts distributed in 1998. This year's event saw only about 500 children because of foul weather.