Bailiff Leticia Johnson had a birthday request this year: buy a holiday gift for a needy child and help make the Season bright. Her goal to ensure children in shelters had a happy holiday took off when Judge Florence Taylor Barner found out and enlisted some help.

The result? Volunteers this weekend delivered nearly 200 gifts to children in need. The gifts will be distributed to children up to age 16 at shelters throughout Broward County.

Those who helped facilitate Leticia’s project included Yvette Tomkins (judicial assistant to Judge Barner) and her family, Carol Hermiston (JA to Judge Giuseppina Miranda), and Simone Reid (JA to Judge Jackie Powell) and attorney Richard Barner of Barner Legal. Judge Powell and Magistrate Hilary Creary also contributed wrapping paper.

Court employees volunteered their lunch breaks to wrap gifts, and the Bernice Gaines Dorn Black Women Lawyers Association donated wrapping paper and gift bags.

Recently honored by ChildNet for 20 years of service (Leticia works in transport for ChildNet during her off hours), Leticia is the kind of rockstar whose behind-the-scenes efforts changes lives. Thank you for making such a difference!