A very merry Christmas: Alfaro-Maldonado family receive donations

Fort Myers resident Linda Alfaro-Maldonado poses for a portrait alongside some of the Christmas donations she received for her family Friday Dec. 23, 2022, at The News-Press offices.

After losing everything to Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers Beach Elementary students Ella and Marcelo Alfaro-Maldonado are going to have a very merry Christmas.

Roughly 30 community members donated money, gift cards and physical gifts to help their mother, Linda Alfaro, this holiday season. Bikes for Tykes, a non-profit organization in Naples, donated two new bikes for the kids.

Almost everything on 11-year-old Ella and 9-year-old Marcelo’s Christmas lists were donated.

More:Christmas Wishlist: Fort Myers Beach Elementary students lose home, possessions to Ian

Fort Myers resident Linda Alfaro-Maldonado reacts after seeing some of the Christmas donations she received for her family Friday Dec. 23, 2022, at The News-Press offices.

“I didn’t expect any of this,” Alfaro said with tears in her eyes Friday when The News-Press met with Alfaro to give her the donations. “Thank you so much. I’m sure my kids are really going to enjoy their Christmas this year.”

The family lost everything except for the ashes of their second mom, two photos, a T-ball metal, a school issued iPad, three pairs of clothing and a pair of shoes each when Hurricane Ian barreled through their Fort Myers Beach home on Sept. 28.

More:Christmas wishlist: Cape Coral family of 8 loses almost everything to Hurricane Ian

Alfaro has been strapped financially since, paying both rent on their new place and the mortgage of their home that no longer exists.

“We have very little,” she said. “This community truly pulled through.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Christmas donations uplifting for Fort Myers family impacted by ian