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Naples moms raise thousands for woman who runs Coastland Center carousel

Mary Warder reacts to children lined up with her surprise gift Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Moms from the Naples Moms 2.0 Facebook group raised money to buy Warder a reliable car. Known as Miss Mary, she has worked at the Coastland Center mall carousel for many years. She maintains her joy while working three jobs, and her car broke down recently — the moms wanted to give back to the women who has given so much to their children.

A group of children holding a giant $5,000 check excitedly huddled by the Coastland Center carousel while a parent led a blindfolded woman through glass doors.

Once inside she slipped the mask off and opened her eyes to something she did not expect.

"Surprise, Miss Mary!" the children and parents cheered together as tears streamed down the woman's smiling face.

The check — raised to help Mary Warder buy another car so she can drive to work — was made out to her. It read: “For being a blessing to all of us.”

Anyone who has visited the Naples mall — a popular local landmark — probably noticed the whirling, light-laden carousel tucked on the south end of the food court. 

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Warder, better known as Miss Mary to all those who frequent Coastland Center, has been working the carousel for eight years — long enough to watch children grow up and to build relationships with the families who stop by. 

"She’s like a local celebrity," said Mike Gehring, father to a 3-year-old and the man who led Warder to her surprise. 

The real heart of the whole operation, she can often be found perched in her ticket booth wearing a rhinestone cowboy hat and a smile.

“She’s always someone you can go to if you’re not feeling good. She’ll lighten your spirit and give you prayer and hope,” said Greta Marszalkowski, a mother who brings her children to the carousel and one of the 4,000 members of the Naples Moms 2.0 Facebook group.

When some of the parents from the Naples Moms 2.0 Facebook page learned Warder's car had broken down and that she was taking the bus to work — she works three jobs to help pay for her daughter's medical bills — they knew they had to do something.

“For her to be that nice — if I had to work three jobs, I don’t think I’d be that nice,” said Angie Pierce, one of the group members.

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The posts that started it all.

So Pierce made a follow-up post from a previous Facebook page by fellow mom Brittany Wallace asking the other moms to help find a way to help Miss Mary.

The response was overwhelming. The post accumulated almost 200 comments laden with personal stories of how Warder had touched their lives. 

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Marszalkowski said Warder helped her achieve her dreams of becoming a special education teacher because of her steadfast character and encouragement.

"She said, 'You are not alone, and God will provide. You are deserving, and stay strong among trials and tribulations.' (Teaching is) my dream come true, and she helped me with it. I owe a lot to her,” Marszalkowski said.

They all agreed to set up a GoFundMe page to help Warder buy a functioning car. In the meantime, Marszalkowski loaned Warder her car while the other moms worked on raising the money. 

Mary Warder embraces each of the children Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018, who came for her surprise presentation of $5,000 to replace her broken-down car. Known as Miss Mary, she has worked at the Coastland Center mall carousel for many years.

In about a month, they surpassed their goal of $2,500. Then fellow group member Lauren Maxwell matched the funds with another $2,500 from her and her husband’s charity titled 2 Da Max Charity.

“I didn’t know the other moms would take it to this level, so this is pretty awesome,” Wallace said before the kids lined up to surprise Warder. 

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After Warder was presented with the check, along with a $100 credit to a salon and roses, she went around to every single person — adult and child — and gave them a hug and a "thank you" for what they had done for her. 

Then she loaded all the children on the carousel, strapped each in herself and took them for a ride. For free. 

“I was blown out of the water from all the love and kindness that was shown to me — that people cared,” Warder said. 

“You never know how much you mean to someone until their lives have changed and they’re changing yours. Everybody wins when God’s involved."

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Greta Marszalkowski, one of the parents who helped prepare a surprise gift for Coastland Center carousel operator  Mary Warder, right, takes a selfie as they ride the carousel Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Parents from the Naples Moms 2.0 Facebook group raised money to buy Warder a reliable car. Known as Miss Mary, she has worked at  the Coastland Center carousel for many years.