Family Hardware Do it Express and the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral teamed up this week to surprise one local family in need.
A brand new Red Mustang by Power Wheels is being donated to a family with three children, ages 2, 4 and 5. The family is having a tough holiday season as the mother lost her job and spent some time in the hospital.
Ed Tisdale, president of Family Hardware, said the store occasionally receives free Power Wheels toys since the store is an authorized service center. Instead of selling the vehicle the store decided to donate it to a needy family and asked Chamber President Mike Quaintance to find the right family.
“Mike and his staff put some names together and Mike sent me one particular needy family that Mike and I thought was the most deserving,” said Tisdale. “I wish we could do more but we can’t.”
Tisdale said the store has donated Power Wheels cars before, but a majority of its charity work is with the Cape Coral Police Department’s Do The Right Thing program.
“We helped them locate a family in need,” said Quaintance. “I’m going to take it out to the family tomorrow (Thursday) so they can give it to the kids on Christmas Eve.”
The J4390 Red Mustang is battery-operated and is designed for children between the ages of 2 and 6. The car’s retail price is approximately $300, explained Quaintance. One of the store’s employees, John Cihosky, also donated some of his free time to properly assemble the vehicle.
“One of the many benefits of being a chamber member is networking to help each other and members of our community as well,” he said.
The Cape Coral chamber recently concluded its holiday toy drive where it collected hundreds of toys and $7,000 worth of donations for the Cape Coral Caring Center.
“Hopefully they’ll have it as a surprise for the kids,” said Tisdale.