HAMPTON, Va. —
From bikes and electric cars to stuffed animals and video games, thousands of presents were given to families by the nonprofit Get Empowered and Greater Emmanuel Temple COGIC on Sunday.
The annual toy drive, held this year at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, provides a helping hand to hundreds of Hampton Roads families. Yolanda Smith's son was one of many in the crowd to take home a present from the drive. She says the bike has helped secure a Christmas he won’t forget.
"I'm feeling like this is something good for the community. You know, a lot of us are having a tough time financially,” Smith said. "It's touching because I thought I wasn't going to have enough money to buy a bike. So this is something that he wanted.”
CEO of the group, Pastor Michael Golden Jr., says the giveaway is a calling he keeps coming back to because he experienced going without firsthand as a child.
“Growing up, we had these moments where you didn't have money for Christmas or you couldn't enjoy the holiday because you didn't have the resources. So for us to ignore that would be something that we would regret,” Pastor Golden Jr. said.
Over the last decade, the event has grown. Now with the help of hundreds of volunteers including elected officials, Golden has one message in hopes of reaching more families next year.
"It's a joy. It satisfies my Christmas, but sometimes it's still not enough,” Golden said. "What we are looking for is partnership so that we can continue to meet the needs of thousands of our residents here in Hampton Roads to see the faces of young people as they unwrap their gift.”
Organizers say they’re already planning next year’s event. They hope the event’s success can make next year even bigger.