During the last 23 years, Grocery Replenishment Specialist Odalys Infante, #222, Miami, has been involved in community events with Publix. Among those events are the annual March of Dimes walk, United Way Days of Caring, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer walk, serving meals for the homeless at Camillus House in Miami and Bowling for the Cure of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

But her most personal event is the annual toy drive for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. It all began in December 1994, when her infant daughter was staying at the hospital. A group of women from a local bank came into her room to ask if they could bring her daughter a toy.

“It was a very difficult time for me and my family,” said Odalys. “Their gesture really touched me, and I wanted to give others the same feeling I had.”

The following year, with the help of her manager and the rest of her Publix co-workers at #222, she started an annual toy drive. In 1995, the team collected 246 toys. Last year, they collected 2,415.

Every year, more associates look forward to the drive and delivering toys to the hospital. Odalys is grateful to every associate who purchases and donates toys, helps her sort the donations and loves doing this for the children.

Publix people really do make the difference.