The Winterhurst Giving Project is an effort made by Lakewood residents to benefit the community.

Held at the Winterhurst Ice Arena in partnership with Cove Community Center, the three-week project brings together volunteers, donors and local organizations with one shared goal: ensuring families facing financial hardship can still experience a joyful holiday season. What began as a donation drive has grown into a community effort to ease the burden on those struggling this holiday season.

The project began on Nov. 17 as a collection effort, inviting people to donate toys, hygiene products and clothing for local families. Volunteers later gathered on Dec. 4 to organize, label and wrap the donated items to ensure families could receive them with dignity and ease.

“This was a collection for our whole community,” said Nicole Zierenberg, a clinical manager at Cove Community Center. “People brought in toys, hygiene products and clothes to give to families in need this holiday season.”

Central to the project is the Winterhurst Ice Arena, which uses its space to host events that bring communities together.

The St. Edward High School hockey team attended the wrapping party to help support the community. “Our main goal in coming here is to make sure kids who don’t have presents this Christmas can get them,” said Conner Massell, one of the hockey players.

Zierenberg said initiatives like the Giving Project reflect the center’s purpose beyond recreation by meeting essential needs and strengthening relationships among residents.“One of our main goals is to bring the community together to support families who are in need and to create meaningful connections through projects like this,” she said.

Local involvement played a key role in the project’s success. Community members of all ages volunteered their time to sort donations, prepare gifts and assist families, reinforcing the idea that helping others is a shared responsibility.

“It’s important to get kids involved as early as possible so they learn how to give back,” Zierenberg said. “Volunteering helps them grow into more empathetic, well-rounded adults.”

For many families, the impact of the Giving Project goes beyond receiving gifts. Some parents struggle annually to afford presents for their children, especially during economic uncertainty.

“We want everyone to have a nice holiday, and this project helps both the children and the parents,” said Zierenberg.

The holiday season can be particularly challenging for families navigating rising costs and limited resources. Organizers said the need for support has increased as more households face financial strain.

Colleen O’Malley, an attendee, came to the wrapping party with her family and discussed the importance of involving children and young people and said seeing the community come together has been a powerful experience. “It’s important to get kids involved as soon as they can so they learn how to give back to others,” O’Malley said. “Especially kids nowadays, volunteering and helping is so important.”

“We’re fortunate to have jobs and the ability to help others, and projects like this remind us how important it is to give back whenever we can,” Zierenberg said.

Through collective effort and generosity, the Winterhurst Giving Project continues to support local families and demonstrate the impact of compassion during the holiday season. Organizers hope the project inspires continued involvement and reminds residents of the strength found in helping one another.