Christmas is more than a week away but by Dec. 16, a room at Terrace Manor Elementary School was filled with bicycles and brightly wrapped gifts.
This is part of a community effort to ensure all children will have a Christmas to remember.
“We partnered with the school to provide gifts to some of the children who may have been less fortunate,” said Minister Trai Williams of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Baptist Church. “We were very, very, very happy to do this. To share the love of Christ. He is the reason for the season.”
Williams said their pastor received a call that families were in need and parishioners responded. Some donated toys and other items, some donated money.
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The church and other community partners, Hammond Grove Word Power Church, Empowerment Youth Solutions, First Presbyterian Church of Augusta and Retired Military Police Association, worked together to build a collection of toys. Enough was collected to provide for 125 children in 40 families.
“It’s really important because a lot of the kids really just don’t have that for them, especially this year with work,” said Mariyah Dempsey. Her son, Alexavier, is a third grader at Terrace Manor. “My two-year-old had COVID so I wasn’t able to work. This got my kids Christmas,” she added.
Dempsey lives across the street from the school and knows other children who will receive gifts. She said she looks forward to seeing all of them playing with toys they otherwise would not have.
However, with nine days until Christmas she does face one dilemma: Where to hide the gifts.
“They’re in my trunk. I don’t know if that’s going to last too long, because the kids like to play in the car. So, maybe the attic,” she said.
Williams said this is the second year his church has participated.
“It makes us feel a sense of hope that the world is still good,” he said. There’s a lot going on in the world right now and people could be doing other things with their money. So, it provides a sense of hope that the world is still right.”
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
