The 27th\u00a0annual Helping Hands for the Holidays \u2013 \u201cFire & Ice\u201d is seeking the community\u2019s generosity to continue its support of three local organizations this holiday season next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means the world to me to be able to continue to host such a meaningful night to kick off the holiday season with the true meaning of the season, which is giving. It has been one of the greatest joys of my life,\u201d Aubuchon Team of Companies President Gary Aubuchon said.<\/p>\n
The event, which is hosted by The Aubuchon Team of Companies, will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, at 4707 S.E. 9th\u00a0Pl., Cape Coral.<\/p>\n
The event will once again directly support Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, Builders Care, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is important because of the three charities that benefit from the event are very integral to our community in helping those who are going through difficult times,\u201d Aubuchon said. \u201cPart of why we continue to do this is to take the three charities and shine a spotlight on the important work that they do in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year, he said, they raised a total of $67,500, which brings their \u201c27-year total to approximately three quarters of a million dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Each year the goal is to exceed the previous year\u2019s total by $1.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are out to exceed last year\u2019s record,\u201d Aubuchon said. \u201cIt\u2019s a testament to the giving spirit of our community. It\u2019s wonderful to open up the doors and because we don\u2019t require RSVP, we open up the doors and hope giving people will walk through them. Every year, they exceed our expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Director of Marketing Shannan O\u2019Brien said the Fire & Ice theme came from one of their employees, which follows the theme of the Rudloph movie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to divide our building in half. The first floor is going to be the land of the Snow Miser. We are hoping to soon have a 9-foot Abominable Snowman in our lobby with the Christmas tree,\u201d she said. \u201cThe land is heat on the second level for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every year, they change the theme of the event, which in past years has been a Winter Wonderland, candy canes and gingerbread, and Nutcracker.<\/p>\n
Although it is hard to determine how many people attend the event, O\u2019Brien said they believe about 200-300 people attend. She said last year they had so many people in attendance they ran out of chairs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are expanding our seating area to accommodate \u2013 it was exciting last year to see,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n
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Aubuchon said as the event has grown they have intentionally spread the crowd throughout the entire 21,000-square-foot headquarters building.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe couldn\u2019t accommodate everybody in the main common area of our building. We have intentionally created spaces within the building for people to go to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Those spaces include a dessert station, dinner station, Santa\u2019s workshop and two bar areas for beverages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien said they are dedicating an entire room to photos with Santa this year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe event begins at 5:30 and then at 6:30 Santa arrives on his sleigh. Then we are able to start the photos with Santa,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The dinner sponsors this year are Cabinet Genies. The food will be provided by Ceno Grill and Salad King.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe interior design center is full of desserts and brought in from all of our staff. It\u2019s a great way for anybody to make their contribution,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n
The event will also feature a DJ.<\/p>\n
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The staff also volunteer at the event by taking donations, bar service, greeting guests at the door, serving food, helping in the dining area and finding a spot for guests to sit.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt\u2019s a great way for our entire team to all give back,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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O\u2019Brien said she would love to invite those that are not able to make the event to stop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to take a picture by the tree and see all the decorations, which will stay up through Christmas.<\/p>\n
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She said they work with Collaboratory to continue to accept donations after the event, which can either be made by check or through the website\u00a0https:\/\/swfla.iphiview.com\/swfla\/OnlineDonation\/tabid\/542\/dispatch\/contribution_id$121673_hash$ca8d95d2d044b08910f3942a0dcca4d91c408195<\/a>.<\/p>\n Check donations should be made out to Collaboratory with a memo of Helping Hands and dropped off at 4707 SE 9th\u00a0Place, Cape Coral, FL 33904.<\/p>\n A check presentation to the three charities will be made on Dec. 19.<\/p>\n \u201cIf people aren\u2019t able to get to the event, they still have plenty of time to give,\u201d Aubuchon said.<\/p>\n