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Be Strong International wasn’t going to let the COVID-19 pandemic place any further burden on parents who may be struggling financially. As a result, BSI’s first-ever Holiday Toy Drive is new initiative that delighted parents and children by providing wrapped gifts and a jolly, dancing Santa Claus at the South Point Crossing Apartments in Florida City, Florida, this past Friday. “It felt so good to see my son receive gifts today,” said Luz Valentine, a resident at South Point Crossing Apartments. “He was excited to see Santa and how Be Strong International had turned the community center into the North Pole!” More than 200 needy children between the ages of 3-13 received presents during BSI’s Holiday Toy Drive on December 11th from 2 to 4 p.m. Gift items included books, interactive games, sports equipment, arts and crafts kits, journal sets, play food and kitchen sets, science kits, bath products, action figures, toy trucks and cars, stuffed animals, and gift cards. “It was an absolute honor to be a part of such an amazing event. At times, the children moved me to tears,” said Jesus Diaz-Aquino, a BSI staff member who dressed up as Santa for the event. “We truly don’t know who and how we impact our community. God is using us all to carry out his mission! I can confidently say that I had the most fun at the event!” Santa could be seen having a merry time, taking pictures with children and their wrapped gifts at a socially safe distance, and directing them to a booth close by where they could receive milk and cookies as well as other goodies provided by Be Strong’s sponsors and partners. Sponsors and partners that made the toy drive possible include the Honorable Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, District 9 Commissioner Kionne McGhee, District 9 School Board member Luisa Santos, TD BANK, Florida Blue, Texas Roadhouse, Be the Light Ari Arteaga Foundation, The Manuel Real Estate Team, Five Below, and Pro Insurance Consultants. “Our number one priority is to give back because we are very much a part of this community, and we care,” said Roberto Alonso, a representative at BlueCross Blue Shield. “Extraordinary times call for extraordinary service.” During these challenging times, BSI has offered the gift of giving and service when the community needed it the most, including a school supply drive in August and a Thanksgiving food drive in November. Be Strong International to Host Holiday Toy Drive for Needy ChildrenMiami, FL – Over 200 underserved children between the ages of 3-13 will now be able to unwrap toys on Christmas morning thanks to the Be Strong International (BSI) Holiday Toy Drive on December 11th in Florida City. With the help of sponsors and volunteers, BSI will distribute toys to children two weeks before the Christmas holiday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Point Crossing Apartments in Florida City, which is the southern-most municipality in the South Florida metro area. Toys and gift items will be comprised of a variety of age-appropriate options, including books, interactive games, puzzles, building sets, electronic games, crayons and coloring books, sports equipment, arts and crafts kits, journal sets, play food and kitchen sets, doll house toys, science kits, train sets, bath products, action figures, toy trucks and cars, stuffed animals, and gift cards. “The Holiday Toy Drive, which is our first, allows us to spread holiday cheer this season,” said Michelle Shirley, Executive Director of BSI. “This has been a challenging year, particularly for the youngest among us, and if we can put a smile on even one child’s face and make their holiday special, we know we made a difference.” Sponsors that made the toy drive possible include The Honorable Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, TD BANK, Florida Blue, Be the Light Ari Arteaga Foundation, Keller Williams, Five Below, and Pro Insurance Consultants. “We want to do what we can to brighten the holiday season for needy children. With nearly one in eight families not having enough to eat, it can be challenging to put gifts under the Christmas tree,” said Danielle Dubuc Wightman, Community Outreach Specialist at BSI. Interested corporations, non-profit organizations, or individuals who are interested in providing financial support, gift cards, and/or toy donations can contact Danielle Dubuc Wightman, Community Outreach Specialist, at danielle@bestrongintl.org. For more information, visit BSI’s website at www.bestrongintl.org/events. For inquiries or to arrange an interview, contact Kristina Ugalde at kristina@bestrongintl.org. New 'Be Strong Lifestyle Journal' Moves You to WholenessMiami, FL –Just in time for the most self-reflective time of the year, Be Strong International (BSI) has created its first-ever journal as a personal development resource. The “Be Strong Lifestyle Journal,” which is now available for purchase online (ISBN: 9781941716052, paperback, full color, 422 pages), is meant to trigger the user’s thoughts in ways that confront their brokenness and seeks to deliver them to closer to wholeness by guiding the user to reflect upon and identify what situation, person, or group caused their suffering, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are excited to see the concept of the “Be Strong Lifestyle Journal” come to fruition. It has truly been a dream come true,” said Michelle Shirley, CEO at BSI. “We hope that the journal transforms the lives of the people who use it by inspiring and helping them to set personal, achievable goals that tackle their brokenness and sets them on the right track to wholeness.” The “Be Strong Lifestyle Journal” utilizes inspirational quotes, integral explanations, recurrent questions and weekly, daily, and monthly challenges with the objective of transforming the user into wholeness. Users are also encouraged to identify accountability partners, or a person or group of people to keep them on track and honest about themselves as they tackle their truth. Users must observe their thoughts, feelings and behavior, and then write about or even draw them. From time to time, the user can review what they jotted down and use it to gauge their personal development and growth throughout all of 2021. A 2011 MIT study underscored the positive impact journaling had on adolescents who struggled with test-tasking anxiety. “One of the best features of this journal is that there are no correct or incorrect responses or ways to express yourself,” continued Shirley. “The goal and primary objective of the journal is to bring about a better, stronger version of you,” she added. “You can then use your newfound wisdom and strength to develop and maintain healthy relationships.” The Be Strong Lifestyle Journal can be purchased on Amazon Books and Barnes and Noble, just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is the first in a line of transformative journals by BSI meant to confront brokenness in a holistic manner that helps users develop and sustain healthy relationships with themselves and others. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Kristina Ugalde at kristina@bestrongintl.org.  Be Strong Int'l Feeds 500 Families in First Thanksgiving Food Distribution Miami, FL – Courtesy of special Be Strong International (BSI) donors and partners, hundreds of needy families were provided free boxes of food that included gift cards to purchase a fresh turkey or ham along with a variety of canned goods and other food items. In doing its part to support those who may be suffering food shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, BSI hosted its first-ever Thanksgiving food distribution on Friday, November 20, 2020, from 10 a.m. to noon at Palmetto Bay Village Hall. Volunteers greeted guests wearing masks with a warmth that could only be matched by the 82-degree weather as they packed their cars with much-needed Thanksgiving supplies. “It is so important to us at Be Strong International to provide families that may be hungry with the food they need to nourish themselves, particularly during these difficult and challenging times,” said Danielle Dubuc Wightman, Outreach Liaison at BSI. “We cannot expect families to focus on bettering themselves mentally, emotionally, and spiritually if they don’t have their basic needs met.” By the end of the event, BSI staff and volunteers gave out all 500 food boxes along with cotton face masks and family-friendly board games. Partners and sponsors who provided the supplies included Walmart, Florida Blue, TD Bank, Publix, Farm Share, The Village of Palmetto Bay, Be the Light Ari Arteaga Foundation, AIE Charter School, Meraki Wellness Healing, Salt Life Today Church, and Florida International University Alpha Phi Sigma National Honors Society. “It’s a very humbling opportunity to give back to the community that we work and live in,” said Emily Arcia, Vice President of TD Bank. “It is an honor for the employees of TD Bank to collect money so that a family in need will use our donation to purchase a turkey and other food items.” The Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Food Distribution comes on the heels of a Back-to-School Supply Distribution event hosted by BSI back in September. Like that event, local families could register online and get supplies for free. All BSI programs are conveniently offered online during the pandemic, and there is no cost to youth and parents to register. For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Kristina Ugalde at kristina@bestrongintl.org.      
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