Tag: toys for tots

It’s That Time of Year: TOYS FOR TOTS!

Written by Staff on November 30, 2022. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

It’s our most favorite time of year – the holiday season! It’s the greatest time for beautiful weather in paradise, fun with loved ones, festive spirit, and giving back!

We’re excited to partner with Toys for Tots in providing a tangible sign of hope and joy to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. Through donations of new, unwrapped toys to Toys for Tots you are helping to bless a child right here in our own beloved community. Both of our offices (on Anna Maria and in Ellenton) are Toys for Tots collection centers. Stop by our A Paradise Realty office to drop off a toy or mark your calendar for our upcoming Holiday Open House supporting Toys for Tots on Friday December 2nd!

All donated toys go back to the children that live in the community where the donation occurred. Anna Maria Island draws in much of its income from tourism-related activities, and the workers within this industry sometimes struggle financially in the offseason. When you donate to Toys for Tots, you’re not only providing joy to children over the holidays, but you’re also easing the stress and pressure of financially overburdened parents who would otherwise not be able to provide gifts for their children.

If you are looking to donate, stop by our A Paradise Realty office during our Holiday Open House on Friday, December 2nd between 5 – 7 pm. Bring your unwrapped toy and join us for a wine tasting and tapas, live Holiday Music by Tanya McCormick and Appetizers from Slicker’s Eatery, and much more fun with our community! Donations are accepted as well if you can’t make it out to shop for a toy, bring a donation and our elves will shop for you.

Can’t make the event? Don’t worry, you can stop by our office at any time this season to drop off a toy and we would love to Thank You in person! Every donation of a toy will be picked up and distributed through several community agencies and civic organizations right here in our own hometown.

A Paradise drop-off locations:

A Paradise Realty – AMI
5201 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

A Paradise Realty – Ellenton
945 25th Dr E #10, Ellenton, FL 34222

Your kindness is the gift that keeps on giving, and we’re grateful to be a part of the holiday magic.

Happy Holidays from our A Paradise family to yours!

Photos from Unsplash.com and Sharon Hoatland (the flyer)

Anna Maria Island Holiday Gift Ideas

Written by Staff on November 17, 2022. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info.

The holiday season is about much more than gift-giving. But, if you’re going to take part in getting gifts for your loved ones… Why not spend money to support local? Whether it’s through a small business or helping lift up Anna Maria Island or a fun activity to explore the area – It’s always a good idea to shop small and remind your loved ones of this special place. Plus, bringing some sunshine to the chilly holiday season is just an added plus!

Here are some ideas we have to bring some Anna Maria Island area to your holiday gift lists:

Shop at a Local Boutique

Some of the best shopping on AMI can be conveniently found on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach and Pine Avenue on the North End of Anna Maria. Both streets host plenty of walkable shopping! We’ve compiled some of our favorite island shops to get everything from sunglasses to surf gear and art to attire.

Tickets to an Amusement

From theme parks to museums to sporting events, the quick day trip from AMI is certainly worth the hike. We’ve compiled a variety of popular recommendations, all within a reasonable driving distance from our little slice of paradise on the Gulf of Mexico.

Membership to a Local Museum

Sarasota, Florida is known for its emphasis on the arts. You could certainly spend many days just checking out the museums within 20-30 minutes within Anna Maria Island. A museum membership is the gift that keeps on giving all year long.You can check out our Sarasota museum recommendations or even gift a membership to one of St.Pete or Tampa’s excellent options!

Local Art

Thoughtfully gifting some art and supporting local artists is a win/win. It’s a beautiful gift for the recipient and caring investment for a local artist or creator. Especially if it’s art depicting or celebrating our gorgeous beaches! These pieces can act as a reminder all year that paradise awaits on AMI. Head to a nearby gallery on the island or make the trip to the many artisans in Bradenton’s famous Village of the Arts!

Gift Certificates to Restaurant

Maybe you can’t sync schedules, you want to send a gift from afar, or you want to give a thoughtful recommendation to someone planning their next trip to Anna Maria… Gift certificates to local restaurants are especially a hit! You can send your recipient on a day out, date night, or dinner without even having to leave the house yourself! Plus, gift certificates are always valuable support for small businesses during the holidays.

A Vacation or Staycation on Anna Maria!

The BEST gift of all – some time on AMI. It’s been a long day (week, month, year, etc.) for everyone. Coming to the crystal clear waters and powdery-sand beaches of Anna Maria Island is the perfect vacation to kick back and unwind. Surprise your loved one by booking a vacation (or staycation) rental!

Toys For Tots!

Giving back is a major part that makes the holiday season so lovely. Toys for Tots is an incredible initiative that we at A Paradise are happy to partner with each and every year. Just drop off a toy to either our Ellenton or Anna Maria Island office to take part in making someone’s Christmas special!

Photos courtesy of Pexels.com

Volunteer Opportunities in the Anna Maria Area

Written by Staff on November 2, 2022. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog, Info, Uncategorized.

It’s always important to give back to your community and to the communities you love, but especially as we enter the Holiday season! Part of what makes Anna Maria Island such a wonderful paradise is the kindness and care of the people who live and frequent here. Not to mention just inland, Bradenton is officially known as “The Friendly City.” A great way to ensure our Gulf Coast area remains so special is to find ways to give back! If you’re a local or just want to get more plugged-in to your favorite vacation town of AMI, we’ve rounded up just a few great volunteer organizations in the area!

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring

AMITW has been coordinating conservation efforts since along the Manatee County shoreline since 1983. There are various ways for you to get involved: Become a Bird Steward, attend a Turtle Talk on Tuesday during summer or buy a Turtle License Plate.

Roser Food Pantry

The food pantry at Roser Church is the one place on Anna Maria Island where people experiencing financial hardship can come to receive free groceries. Volunteers are needed for May 2022 through April 2023 to help with sorting and organizing donated products. Volunteers are asked to cover on Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM for a specific week. The schedule is flexible and volunteers can choose dates best for them. If interested please let us know by completing the form below or call the church office at 941-778-0414.

Anna Maria Elementary

From Fall Festivals to Literacy Night to Peace Day – this beloved little school by the bay is a pillar of our Anna Maria community. The AME PTO does a great job of organizing so many special events for local students and they’re often looking for more support and eager volunteers: Be sure to fill out a District Volunteer form and confirm with the AME PTO website.

The Center of AMI

The Center of Anna Maria is focusing on the talents and skills of our community members and reaching out for your support. The Center’s goal is to offer effective training, offer interesting and meaningful work, provide a place for social connections to make new friends, and hopefully be a place to learn something new. For more information or if interested in volunteering please contact Jillian Ptak at customerservice@centerami.org, (941) 778-1908.

Keep Manatee Beautiful

Keep Manatee Beautiful brings together volunteers, businesses, and local governments to provide grassroots solutions to littering, illegal dumping, solid waste disposal, recycling, and beautification. All are welcome to help Keep Manatee Beautiful! Check out their events calendar for upcoming dates.

Toys for Tots and Santa Paws

These two causes are very near and dear to the hearts of our team and ones we look forward to year-after-year. Donating to Toys for Tots or Santa Paws is a tangible and trusted way to make a genuine difference this holiday season. The best part? Both our Ellenton and Anna Maria offices are drop-off spots for these causes! Stop on by with an unwrapped gift to either of our offices and we’d be thrilled to pass it on to those who need it most.

www.VisitAParadise.com

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Our A Paradise team prioritizes taking part in fun events for great causes. If you’d like to join us for the latest and greatest charitable events, be sure to follow us on Facebook for updates!

Photos Courtesy of Pexels

Donate to Toys for Tots on AMI

Written by Paradise Realty Staff on December 15, 2020. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog.

Make a difference this holiday season and donate to Toys for Tots! Provide joy to children over the holidays.

The holidays might look quite different this year for your family, but the opportunity to make a child’s eyes light up is still there! In fact, this uncertain year is even more of a reason to give back this season. More families are struggling financially and many are finding it harder to get into the holly jolly spirit. There is still a chance to spread holiday cheer, even right here in our community, through Toys for Tots.

Last year in Manatee County, our area really showed up to give back! 60,671 toys were distributed to almost 14,400 children through Toys for Tots. We know this holiday time has really snuck up on many of us, but it’s not too late to join the gift-giving goodness! Just pick up a new toy and drop it off at one of our 2 convenient locations in Ellenton or on Anna Maria Island!

Easy outside drop off available at both office locations from Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm.

Holmes Beach office

5201 Gulf Drive
Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Ellenton office

945 25th Drive East, Suite 10
Ellenton, FL 34222

Or, if you can’t make it to either of our locations to drop off a gift there are convenient ways for you to give online as well! You can make a monetary donation to our local Toys for Tots campaign by clicking this link . Or, you can make a virtual toy drop at their link here!

Whether you’re shopping and dropping in person at one of our A Paradise locations, donating online, or selecting toys virtually- thank you for answering the call and joining us to make this season merry and bright for kids who really need it right here in our vibrant community!

Your kindness is the gift that keeps on giving, and we’re grateful to be a part of the holiday magic.

Happy Holidays from our A Paradise family to yours!

Photos courtesy of Pixaby.com

Celebrate the Holidays on Anna Maria Island

Written by Paradise Realty Staff on November 30, 2020. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Blog.

After a long year like this, it’s important to make the holidays a time to prioritize relaxation and joy. Whether that means embracing new traditions, tweaking old ones, or just making it up as you go! A great way to make the holidays a bit more calm? Take a vacation to the most serene and beautiful place we know – Anna Maria Island!

Jack Frost won’t be nipping at your nose and the only way you’ll get a white Christmas is on our powdery-sand beaches. The weather may be warmer than any other typical Winter you’re probably used to but spending the holidays in paradise can bring its own unique kind of magic.

Here are a few ways to make the most of celebrating the holiday season in paradise.

Build a Snowman out of Sand

Take the classic Winter activity but make it beachy. Take the snowman idea and just trade it for sand! Your hands will stay warm and you can snap a pic to share with all of your colder-weather loved ones!

Paper Snowflakes

Stay warm and make your own decorative paper snowflakes with this longtime favorite! It’s a great way to bring back some childhood memories as well as pretty much the most inexpensive craft and way to decorate that you could ever ask for!

Enjoy Ice Cream instead of Avoiding Icicles

We’d choose ice cream over icicle dodging any day! Stop by one of our favorite local ice cream shops and get a sweet treat.

Craft Coastal Ornaments

If you’re in the crafty mood and want to make a keepsake to remember your time in paradise year after year, we have a list of easy DIY coastal-themed ornaments! These work great as a family activity, stress-relieving activity, or can be given as Christmas gifts!

Trade Hot Cocoa for Iced Coffee

You may be used to cuddling up next to a warm fire and sipping hot cocoa or warm cider which you can certainly still do here… But it may be a little more comfortable with sometime to help cool you down. Here’s a list of some of the BEST coffee shops in the area where you can get your favorite coffees, cocoas, and teas – hot or iced!

Toys For Tots

Giving back is a major part that makes the holiday season so lovely. Toys for Tots is an incredible initiative that we at A Paradise are happy to partner with every year. Just drop off a toy to either our Ellenton or Anna Maria Island office to take part in making someone’s Christmas special!

Go Golfing instead of Shoveling Snow

An even better way to get a good arm workout than shoveling snow? There are plenty of really great golf courses in the area. Much more fun than breaking a sweat to get into your driveway… Much more of our kind of driving!

Water Sports instead of Snow Sports

There are plenty of outdoor activities that you can enjoy in our area, especially ones on the water! If you love skiing, try water-skiing! Or there are plenty of fun Gulf activities like paddleboarding, charter fishing, or skim boarding!

Shop Local

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite local , small shops and boutiques where you can pick up gifts for any of your loved ones or even a souvenir for yourself!

See, there are just a few wonderful ways that you can make the holidays on Anna Maria Island special. Give us a call to hear about some of our latest deals and see how we can get you and your family your perfect getaway for winter in paradise! (800) 237-2252

Photos courtesy of Deposit Photos, Pixabay and Sharon Hoatland

It’s almost “the most wonderful time of the year” – the holidays!

Written by Paradise Realty Staff on November 30, 2019. Posted in Blog.

A time for family, fun, and feasting. But most importantly, it’s a time for giving, and we’re not just talking about gifts.