Local organizations give back through Christmas toy drives. Here’s how you can help

By WVUA 23 Digital Reporter Rachel Seale

As Christmas music floods radio stations and holiday shoppers battle crowds and traffic to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones, some children are hoping Santa Claus will deliver at least one item on their wish list this Christmas.

To help jolly old Saint Nick and many parents struggling to provide the items on their children’s Christmas lists, local organizations have made it their mission to give instead of take this holiday season. These organizations are hosting toy drives for families in need this Christmas.

Church of the Highlands gives hope

The Church of the Highlands provides gifts to children in need each Christmas through its Giving Hope program.

Steve Repke, outreach director for the church in Tuscaloosa, said Highlands members purchase toys for families who have signed up to participate in the Christmas Assistance Program. He said parents can come to church and choose the gifts they want to give their children.

“It’s based on the idea of ​​turning parents into Christmas heroes,” said Repke.

The program was launched in 2015 to give parents the opportunity to provide Christmas gifts to their children. Church of the Highlands partners with local schools and nonprofit organizations to support children this Christmas. Repke said the church is supporting about 700 children throughout Tuscaloosa this year.

Repke said church members purchase gifts based on age group and gender. He said members do not purchase gifts for a specific child so parents can decide what gifts they want to leave under the tree.

Parents come to Highlands to choose their child’s preferred gifts in a store-like setting. Repke said the gifts were packaged and addressed to the children as if parents or grandparents had purchased the gifts.

“(This) allows the family a little more autonomy, a little more holistic Christmas experience,” Repke said.

You can get involved by donating online or dropping off toys at church. Lists of suitable donations can be picked up at the church.

Repke said participating in the program is humbling and he hopes the community can feel the love of Jesus this holiday season, at a time when many people feel isolated and overwhelmed.

“The idea is to be a resource for the community and take some of the holiday pressure off,” Repke said.

The deadline to drop off toys at Highlands is Saturday, December 7th. Parents who have registered to participate in the program can pick up gifts on Saturday, December 14th.

High socks for hope

High Socks for Hope is sponsoring approximately 100 children throughout Tuscaloosa for Christmas this year. The children come from Tuscaloosa’s One Place, local foster homes or families who were previous clients of High Socks for Hope.

Judy Holland, executive director of High Socks for Hope, said the organization was founded after the April 27, 2011, tornado that struck Tuscaloosa. High Socks for Hope helps families during natural disasters. The organization has been sponsoring children during the holiday season for around 13 years.

Holland said the organization works hard to provide every child with the items they put on their Christmas wish list. She said the things kids put on their list touch her heart every year.

“A lot of them were asking for underwear and clothing and coats and shoes,” Holland said. “Some people asked me for food for Christmas.”

Holland said the group also recently dropped off a truckload of gifts in Selma so the children could celebrate Christmas with new toys and clothing.

To schedule an appointment to drop off items, you can call Holland at 205-454-8434 or email her at [email protected].

Tuscaloosa’s One Place will pick up the gifts and deliver them to families in need.

The deadline for donations is Thursday, December 5th. High Socks for Hope has two locations, one in Tuscaloosa and one in Northport.

Tuscaloosa Academy and RISE Center toy car

Tuscaloosa Academy partners with the RISE Center each year to provide gifts for children from the center.

Ford Beeker, president of the Student Government Association, said the lower, middle and high schools work together to collect toys for children at the RISE Center. He said each class was given a list of items to purchase from a specific child’s Christmas list.

“Each class has a specific student they get gifts for,” Beeker said.

Dylan Hawkes, the school’s principal, said the partnership has been in place for several years.

“Each student gives us a wish list of what they would ideally want, and we work and see … what we can do to make it special for that student,” Hawkes said.

Beeker said students are asking for items like a Bluetooth speaker, headphones, yo-yos or a new bed set. He said the deadline for TA students to bring toys to school is Thursday, Dec. 5, and RISE will pick up the gifts to distribute at the center.

“TA has always been a truly family and faith-oriented school, so we are excited to give back to the community,” Beeker said. “We want everyone to have a nice Christmas.”

More information about volunteering and donating to the RISE Center can be found online.

Toy drive for Brookwood elementary students

A local real estate agency in Brookwood has partnered with Brookwood Elementary to sponsor 14 children for Christmas this year.

Jana Genery, co-owner of First Class Real Estate Powerhouse and Davis Genery Properties, said this is the second year the agency has worked with the elementary school to provide gifts to local students.

“It’s just something we enjoy doing every year,” Genery said. “We try to do a lot for our community.”

Monetary donations can be made via Venmo to @Jana-Genery or via Cash App to $JanaGenery.

Genery said the program is not part of the Angel Tree Christmas relief program; However, the company does have a tree of angels with wish lists for children if you are interested in purchasing an angel and shopping for that particular child. She said the agency will provide nine gifts to each of the children it sponsors.

“It’s truly a blessing for us to be able to give back,” Genery said.

The deadline for all donations is Thursday, December 12th. Genery said the gifts will be delivered to the elementary school on Friday, Dec. 13, so parents can pick up the gifts and give them to their children for Christmas.

Donations can be made to First Class Real Estate Powerhouse based 15706 Highway 216 Unit B Brookwood, Alabama, 35544.

WAWC Healthcare toy drive

WAWC Healthcare, formerly known as West Alabama Women’s Center, is also collecting toys for families in need this holiday season.

Crystina Hughes, director of nurse public relations for WAWC Healthcare, said this is the clinic’s first annual Christmas toy drive.

The clinic has an Amazon Wish List where people can purchase toys or bring new, unwrapped toys for newborns to 12 years old to the clinic at 535 Jack Warner Parkway Suite I.

“We want to take some of the holiday stress away from parents who may be struggling financially to get their children toys this Christmas,” Hughes said.

Hughes said the deadline for toy donations is Wednesday, Dec. 18. Parents can pick up gifts at the clinic on Thursday, December 19th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

“We will be making gift bags and posting on social media how many gift bags we have per age group,” Hughes said.

Everyone is welcome to stop by the clinic and pick up a free gift bag of toys. The number of gift bags will be posted on the clinic’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Monetary donations are also accepted. Hughes said monetary donations can also be dropped off at the clinic, or you can call the clinic at 205-556-2026 for more information about donating.

The WAWC Healthcare clinic offers health and pregnancy services including prenatal care, STI testing, ultrasounds and pregnancy verification.