5-year-old girl leads effort to give gifts to hundreds children

A 5-year-old girl raised enough money to buy toys for hundreds of kids in Southwest Florida.

Without Chandler’s help, many children in the region wouldn’t have a Christmas this year.

A 5-year-old using Facebook probably doesn’t sound like a good idea, but after what Chandler was able to accomplish, most would likely make an exception.

“It was really incredible. We didn’t realize what an impact she was going to make, and this was all her,” Renee Ciccarello said.

Ciccarello is Chandler’s proud mom. She never figured her daughter’s wish to help families in need this Christmas would attract the attention it did.

People nationwide sent money to Chandler, so she could buy gifts for other children. Some also sent gifts for Chandler to give.

“It just started to snowball effect, and when I did the final number and realized we were over $4,000, it was magical,” Ciccarello said. “It was how Christmas feels.”

Chandler began her endeavor by asking her classmates to donate what they could. Now, more than 400 kids will find a gift under the tree.

“She was able to help them and give the parents a peace of mind this Christmas and to warm their hearts,” Ciccarello said. “That’s just special.”

Lourdes Forste with Catholic Charities told us Chandler answered their prayers.

“That was what got us to where we could do everything this year,” Forste said. “Without that, we wouldn’t have enough. At the beginning, I was totally scared that we were not going to make it.”

Chandler’s original goal was to buy bicycles for kids who wanted one, and we were told she was able to get a bike for every child who asked.

A mom who spoke to us said she’s touched by what Chandler accomplished.

“My kids will be receiving something for the first time from someone who helps families in need,” Isabel Romero said in Spanish before we translated to English.