Community Corner
Church Donates 1,000 Toys To Alexandria Families In Need
The church helps struggling families get Christmas gifts for their children. The need for this assistance has grown each year.
HYBLA VALLEY, VA—Local families in need will have presents under their Christmas trees thanks to a group of volunteers at a Greater Alexandria church. Shiloh Church of God church members collected more than 1,000 toys donated through Toys for Tots to distribute to families.
"We’ve been doing this for about four years now and the response is just tremendous," said Shiloh Church of God in Christ, Pastor Floyd C. Hawkins, a veteran and 30-year leader of the church. "We started with about 50 families and have now served over 250 in Alexandria alone."
According to the church, families' requests for assistance increase every year. This year the church saw a significant jump in requests.
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Recipients like Marsha Jackson-Lites, a grandmother of three, are grateful they can have gifts to give their family.
"I’ve been between jobs this year and the year before, and the members of Shiloh really came
through," said Jackson-Lites. "I put the toys under the tree the night before and wake up to my grandkids shouting about all the gifts they’ve gotten. It warms my heart to see them light up like that. There’s no way I could’ve done that without the toys from the church."
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The church's hospitality coordinator Felisha Bailey works with Toys for Tots distributor Angie Jefferson to get toy donations that match the ages of the children on their list.
Church members traveled to Charlottesville and brought the Toys for Tots donations back to Alexandria. These volunteers include LaVaughn and Crystal Lawrence, parents of three who traveled after a day of work. "I love kids, and to be able to help other parents who might not be able to provide for their kids is priceless to me," said Crystal Lawrence.
On the future of the growing program, Pastor Hawkins says, "As long as there are requests from families, we will be doing our best to fill them."
The church is located at 8008 Fordson Road, Alexandria.
Image: Members of Shiloh Church of God in Christ pose with some of the toys collected during the Toys for Tots drive, via Shiloh Church of God
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