A Gift from GIA
In the true Holiday spirit, we are compelled to want to give. There are many organizations that vie for our generous hearts at Christmastime. A well known local Wildwood family, the Chiarella’s, would like to call upon your heart once again to support their annual “Gift from Gia” program. If you know their very sad story, you know that they have taken their own broken hearts to bless the children who are spending their Christmas inside Cooper Hospital. The Chiarella’s sadness at Christmastime is now softened every year by an unspeakable joy that only comes from a giving heart. In that spirit, their daughter Gia’s memory continues to live on. Read below to find out how you can be filled with the same kind of Christmas joy

We accept and distribute gifts for the sick and needy children at Cooper Hospital in Camden, which is the sending hospital for severe trauma cases from our county. We spent our last Christmas with Gia there in 1998, and experienced the heartbreak firsthand. The staff was wonderful to the patients and their families, but at this most festive time of year, the despair is completely overwhelming.

What initially started as a way to fill the empty spot under Gia's tree has turned into an incredibly remarkable tribute to her. Each donation is tagged "A Gift from Gia," and as they are dispersed, the families naturally ask who Gia is. The staff tells her story, and so her name and memory will go on.

In 1999, our first year, we sent up a packed van full of gifts. Last year, we were extremely proud to see our volunteers box, tag and pack over 1,000 gifts to be delivered to the hospital. The holidays are an extremely difficult time for us, but the outpouring of love, compassion, and generosity, all in Gia's name, helps more than you could ever understand, and we are forever most grateful. Any donations, for children aged newborn through teen, will be most greatly appreciated.

The gifts may be dropped off unwrapped at any of our local schools, at our home at 2309 Central Ave. in North Wildwood, or at "GIA", 3001 Pacific Ave. in Wildwood. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 609-729-0344.

Enjoy a Happy, Healthy & Safe Holiday Season. Thank You,
Vince, Beth and Mia Chiarella

Wildwood friends gather at Christmas time and remember Gia.