By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
The Christmas spirit was alive Saturday, December 12, with individuals and organizations across Toledo partnering to provide holiday cheer to those in need.
Simply D’vine Boutique’s Christmas Basket Giveaway
Terrie Cook, the owner of Simply D’Vine Boutique (3606 Sylvania Ave.), and president of the Beta Phi Chapter of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc. held her 11th annual Christmas Basket Giveaway.
Cook hosts the event twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as her way to give back. The sorority joined the effort six years ago and this year the event has a new partnership: The Taylor Automotive Family.
This year the group gave out 50 baskets. The baskets include everything for Christmas dinner with items such as cornbread, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese as well as a turkey. The event is free to anyone with no requirements.
“Many people go without year round, it’s not just this season, mentioned Cook, “but at Christmas time I believe it is important to give back. This is just one way to do it. We know with the economy and everything going on in the world more people are in need. So I am just happy and honored to be able to do it,” she stated.
Junction Coalition’s Get the Lead Out of the Holidays Screening and Toy Giveaway
The Junction Coalition partnered with Nexus Healthcare at 1415 Jefferson Ave. to provide free lead screening and toys for the community. Families received free testing for lead exposure by certified physicians and were given a toy and a picture with Santa Claus.
This is the second year of the event with an estimated 200 families served this year. Lead exposure has been linked to extreme health risks and cognitive issues.#419GetTheLeadOut is a key initiative of The Junction Coalition.
Alexis Smith, longtime volunteer for the Junction Coalition, stated, “This is our way of giving back to our families in more than one way. We know that this has been a difficult time for a lot of our families. So, they have an opportunity to still provide their kids with something for the holidays and also make sure that they are healthy and taken care of.”
“We’re making sure that if nothing else, families are walking away with the information,” she stated.
Bishop Marjorie Holt’s Purse Giveaway
Every year Bishop Marjorie Holt, pastor of Bethesda Christian Center, selects a nonprofit to partner with to provide a blessing. This year she partnered with the Wayman Palmer YMCA and their Toy Giveaway to provide free purses to children and adults.
This was Bethesda Christian Center and Holt’s fourth year hosting the event and she had 410 purses to give away. Last year she gave away 260 pairs of tennis shoes to the Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls.
“We’re in critical times economically and people aren’t always able during these times to purchase gifts and be blessed themselves. I decided some years back to start doing this every year. So here we are again, in partnership the Wayman Palmer YMCA, to be able to be the blessing to people.”
Holt gave out purses of different types and sizes, from Liz Claiborne, Nine West, Gucci, Kenneth Cole, Burberry and more. “It was an awesome turnout. People were excited about being able to come in a receive the purses.”
“It is always, to me, a way to provide a means of encouragement and to spread the love. Because that’s really what it’s all about,” she shared.
