Lisa D’Cato
Poinciana Writer

Santa’s Helping Hands is not just a cute holiday catch phrase.

For Poinciana residents, it is the name of one of the community’s longest-running and endearing holiday traditions. Holiday Season 2012 is upon us (just look at the stores and decorations on Cypress Parkway) and the time to make sure all Poinciana children are remembered is now.

Santa’s Helping Hands was started in 1995 by long-time resident Linda Cantreva and the late Carleen Halen. The pair were involved many community activities and sports programs and were made aware of the tough times financially that many families were facing. The reality was that these children would not have a present to open Christmas morning.

Enter Cantreva and Halen. The duo contacted the now defunct Poinciana Volunteer Fire Department and VFW Post 8120 of Poinciana, the still involved Poinciana Ladies Club, Avatar, the Association of Poinciana Villages, Poinciana Hardware and other local businesses. The toys they had collected were to go to Poinciana kids, but Cantreva recalls, “When we realized we had way more kids than we thought we had to resort to standing nightly at Winn-Dixie collecting spare change.”

Cantreva and Halen were determined to meet this challenge.  Winn-Dixie showed its support and donated turkeys, hams and trimmings for the cause. States Cantreva, “Our program was supported by the community of Poinciana for the children of Poinciana, ” Cantreva said.

In 2010, Santa’s Helping Hands was struck with a devastating blow. Carleen Halen’s untimely death left the future of this Poinciana group questionable.

Poinciana resident and retired Poinciana patrol officer/ EMT Bob Trembley has kept this program going. Trembley, whose dedication to Santa’s Helping Hands helped him garner the first-ever Citizen of the Year from the Rotary Club of Kissimmee South/Poinciana in 2011, is handing over the reigns. While Tremble is taking a step back, he will serve as the honorary chairman.

The group Poinciana Pros will  keep Santa’s Helping Hands going. Last year, they received the largest amount of toys ever with the help of the Poinciana Area Council, the Rotary Club of Kissimmee South/Poinciana, the Poinciana Ladies Club, the Poinciana Veterans Club and other generous donors (hopefully, this will hold true for this year as well!). With the help of all to collect toys and food,  Poinciana Pros will see that Poinciana takes care of their own.

Non-perishable food and toys can be donated into the box labeled “Santa’s Helping Hands” at Poinciana’s Starbucks, NYPD Pizza, the Poinciana Community Center, the Association of Poinciana Villages Administration Offices, REMAX, Pioneer Realty and Quiznos’s. This could be a great project for schools and youth groups to support as well. Items collected will stay within Poinciana.

If you are interested in donating food items or new and unwrapped toys, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 407-846-7122. Let’s make this holiday season a happy one for every Poinciana child.

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Stop by Poinciana Hispanic Christian Church, 3230 Pleasant Hill Road, this Saturday and take a pro-active approach to your health. A family health fair will be held today, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event will provide screenings, prevention tips and other useful information.

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I do truly appreciate Thanksgiving, which is only days away, but, still, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The 19 annual Poinciana Christmas Parade will be Saturday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. Sign up to participate with a walking group or parade float by Tuesday. Stop by the Association of Poinciana Villages’ administration building, 401 Walnut St. to enter your group.

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If you have any Poinciana news or information that you would like to share, call Lisa D’Cato at 407-846-7122 or email news@osceolanews

gazette.com.