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In the season of giving, numerous organizations are ready to connect donated toys with as many kids as they can.
Farmers Branch Rotary Club focuses on helping everyone in the community all year round, but especially during the holiday season. During the holidays, they specialize in giving gifts to families who face trying times. Rotary President Vincent Montenegro said the club had sponsored families at Vivian Field Middle School for 15 years now. "We've been doing this for a while now in this community and are proud of it.”
The club provides basic necessities for kids, such as shirts, shoes and school supplies. “It’s closer to 60 [kids], but sometimes we, fortunately, pass that number.” Montenegro wished to make it clear that the number isn’t really important as long as the club can help anyone they can.
Lucy’s Toy Drive will mark its 20th anniversary, running since 2005. Run by Edward Jones financial advisor Lucy Gore and her family, Gore collects donated gifts from the community and gives them to Metrocrest Services and Scottish Rite for Children pediatric hospital in Dallas for distribution.
“I’m not sure how many kids, because once we deliver the toys, we don’t get the details,” Gore said, “but we do get 200 to 250 toys each year.” The program started with just 15 toys its first year.
Other than Gore, her husband and their three children, Gore said 50 to 100 people from the community donate gifts to the toy drive. This year, the toys will be delivered on December 13.
Stacie Martin, the founder of Single Parents Advocate, said she feels a little nervous about this year’s toy drive. She’s run the organization since 2009, and in recent times, they average helping 100 to 150 people from all over North Texas for the holidays each year. “They all usually don’t have enough money and need help with gifts for them and their family,” she said.
Usually, to accomplish their numbers, the Single Parents Advocates receives help from teachers and students from several schools by participating in book drives, Christmas decorating and loading the gifts into Lewisville High School Harmon campus.
However, the organization’s recent relocation to Farmers Branch strained the organization’s goals. “I’m a little concerned because we just moved to Farmers Branch in July, and we do hope we are accepted in this community,” Martin said.
She said they were welcomed by The Meeting Place, where their office is now located, and some co-tenants even donated gifts as well. Branch Vision also held a toy drive for Single Parent Advocate with their holiday celebration.
“Things are going well here, we are very blessed, but we are still looking for more support for this time of year, which is always needed,” Martin said.
Other organizations and groups also are organizing drives for Christmas. Branching Out With Love Toy Drive aims to give 300 students gifts this year. Organized by Loretta Almanza, Tina Bennett-Burton and others, new unwrapped toys can be dropped off through today, Wednesday, Nov. 25, at A Honeycomb of Health. Donations will be distributed Dec. 6 at Farmers Branch Elementary. The goal is to give each child a toy, a pair of gloves and a beanie.
Metrocrest Services’ annual holiday program allows parents to choose unwrapped toys for their children as well as non-perishable food and winter coats for the family at the holiday store, 1145 N. Josey Lane in Carrollton. Those who are enrolled for the program will be scheduled to visit the store between Dec. 10-19.
Community members who want to help with the holiday program can make monetary donations, hold a holiday donation drive or volunteer. Visit the Metrocrest Services website for more information.
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