At Watermelon Swim, our mission goes beyond creating a community of safer swimmers – it’s about building stronger, more supported communities both in and out of the pool. From raising scholarships for our Students with Disabilities program to collecting food donations for Feeding Tampa Bay, our hearts are full of giving this holiday season. Now, we’re excited to kick off one of our favorite annual traditions: the Merry Melon Giving Tree!
Our Giving Tree program is a cherished Watermelon Swim tradition that helps bring holiday cheer to Tampa Bay families facing financial hardship. Since 2007, this program has supported hundreds of families by providing gifts, meals, clothing, and more – ensuring every child can experience the joy of the holidays. This year, we’re continuing that mission while also sharing the gift we know best: the gift of swim!
How it Works:
From November 20th through December 19th, our Melon Family can visit any of our five locations to pick an ornament from our Merry Melon Giving Tree. Each ornament represents a wish list from a local family in need. You can fulfill their wish in person by purchasing the listed gift and returning it, new and unwrapped, to your local Watermelon Swim with the ornament attached.
Prefer to give online? Check out our curated online Giving Tree Retail Shop or the Merry Melon Amazon Wish List, which allows you to purchase gifts directly and have them shipped to our Wesley Chapel location. Team Melon will then transform our Wesley Chapel site into Santa’s Workshop, where we’ll organize and wrap all the donations for families to pick up before Christmas.
Need Assistance or Know a Family Who Does?
If you or a family you know could use some extra help this season, please complete our online application form. The application will be released on November 12th at 12pm, and will close once we have hit capacity. Stay tuned to our social media for an announcement and a link to the application. Our team will review submissions as they come in and will reach out with a confirmation email. Space is limited, so be sure to apply early!
Thank you, Melon Family, for helping us make the season merry and bright for those who need it most. With your generosity, we can spread holiday cheer and continue growing a community of safer, stronger, and more supported families – one gift at a time.