Jingled Elves spread cheer & fill stockings of SWFL charities

Reporter Gail Levy

The Jingled Elves danced and sang their way through Naples. They started with a flash mob before jumping onto a trolly to spread the holiday cheer far and wide. It is all part of a fundraiser for Southwest Florida charities.

The money they raise is filling the stockings of four different charities all benefiting women and children.

Dashing through Naples the Jingled Elves bring more than just holiday spirit. They also bring a very merry Christmas to children from Pathways Early Education Center in Immokalee.

Executive Director for Pathways Early Education Center, Beth Hatch, said, “our children don’t have the library’s and all of the educational toys that they do at school.”

With the thousands of dollars raised by the cheerful Jingled Elves, they’ll get the tools they need.

“It just changes their path forever,” said Hatch.

The Jingled Elves have their list and they checked it twice. They found three other charities that aren’t naughty, but nice.

Along with Pathways Early Education Center, The Shelter for Abused Women and Children, Laces of love and Youth Haven will all receive some of the money raised.

President and Founder of the Jingles Elves, Donna Issenmann, said, “kids are our future and here in Collier County, they are sometimes forgotten because there’s so much wealth here, but there’s a lot of poverty.”

But Santa never forgets, and neither do the 150 women in the Jingled Elves because one night of dancing and singing will change a life forever.

Issenmann said, “to be able to help and just a small way like this, it is truly unbelievable.”

This year, the Jingled Elves raised around $80,000.

They said they’ll be able to give each charity what they asked for and more.

Next year they’re expecting the event to be even bigger and bring in even more money.