A Christmas tradition of the caring kind

Seeing hungry and homeless people roaming the streets of downtown Miami on Christmas four years ago haunted Erika Castroman.
The teenager was driving through the area with her family, on their way to visit relatives for the holiday.
That no one seemed to care for the people Castroman saw broke her heart.
Instead of giving 15 backpacks that Castroman had filled with goodies to her relatives, she handed them out to people without homes.
Castroman’s “Stockings Filled with Love” campaign has been a Christmas tradition ever since.
And with community support, her gifts to those less fortunate than herself have grown.
Now in her fifth
Christmas season of remembering others, Castroman said in 2016, she gave away 50 bags; this season there will be 200 packages.
Castroman is now 20 and a sophomore at St. Thomas University.
All the backpacks contain fruit cups, Cheez-It crackers; granola bars; juice; socks; wipes; deodorant and toothpaste.
To encourage community support, she promotes her cause on social media and passes out flyers in Miami Lakes.
And once again, her neighbors have responded.
Residents and her family have donated backpacks and the contents that make her campaign possible.

Castroman said she and her parents, Alex and Ivette Castroman, will return to downtown Miami on Dec. 25 to give the backpacks to the folks she meets.
“To share some love with the less fortunate by providing them with basic necessities, and by helping to keep the love of Jesus and spirit of Christmas in their hearts, is amazing,” Castroman said.
Alex Castroman said he’s proud of his daughter as she seeks to provide snacks and basic necessities for more people each year.
“She has a good heart to help people who are going through tough times on Christmas,” he said.
The Miami Lakes Sports Shop is a drop-off spot for donations.
“As merchants on Main Street, we love to be a part of her efforts to help the homeless,” said Jim Hamilton, who owns the business with his wife Rosalyn. “We appreciate our young people when they step up and help the community.”