McMoments and Memories: Toys for Tots

Showing posts with label Toys for Tots. Show all posts

Monday, December 19, 2011

Toys for Tots 2011

We had our fourth annual Toys for Tots giveaway at church yesterday and it was a huge success! Approximately 150 children with their parents, grandparents or guardians were in attendance. You can see the many gifts just waiting to be distributed...

But first, the Kids Choir sang! Including many of the visiting children...

Two U.S. Marines were in attendance to hand out each gift...

As each child's name was called, they came to the front to receive their gift...

Then they had to WAIT! And wait until everyone had a gift...

After a count to three the ripping began...

The only sounds were laughter and paper ripping!

We followed the service up with a free Christmas dinner for everyone. This year we had ham, potatoes, veggies, rolls and dessert. One little girl told me, "This is my best Christmas ever!" I'm so glad we get to be a part of this great event!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Toys for Tots Sunday

There is so much that can be said about Toys for Tots. What an amazing program! I'm sure all of us know someone who has struggled financially this year. As adults we tighten our belts, but children have a difficult time understanding. The generosity of so many, for many years, has helped ease the burden for parents and brighten Christmas for children.

We do our best to make it more than just a time of gifts. The children are introduced to our Sunday school department and everyone gets a taste of what a service in Victory Tabernacle is like. Our puppet choir pulls out all the stops wearing their special robes!!

And Pastor White always gives a thought that is relevant.

Sis. Tricia is our coordinator. She did a fantastic job as always.

There are so many who help, whether it's calling the names on the gifts...

or sitting on the floor with the little ones!

I will also tell you - it takes an army to feed an army!

But the most beautiful sight yesterday was when we took up our Christmas for Christ offering. Our worship leader explained that this was for the church family, our guests did not need to contribute. The money would be going to missionaries. We have a big basket at the front of our church and we always bring our offering wrapped. I was playing the piano and had a front row view of all that was going on. More than one of the mothers, who was there because they needed help giving to their own children, walked up and put money in. It brought tears to my eyes. Some people just have the spirit of giving, no matter how much or little they have. I know God saw them giving, just as He saw the widow giving her two mites in Mark chapter 12.