Where there has been great need in Greenwood, it has been met with great generosity as Christmas Day approaches.
Some events this week — three toy drives and a coat drive — highlight different ways of accomplishing the same goal: helping others.
The Greenwood Community Center held its second annual toy drive, “Toys for Joy,” on Sunday after last year’s toy drive was scrapped due to the pandemic.
“It went well,” said Debra Adams, one of the co-founders of the Community Center. A total of 133 kids were able to receive toys thanks to donations from the community, which included last-minute contributions from Pillow Academy.
“The need was really huge this year, and some people weren’t able to make the deadline for The Salvation Army as well as our deadline,” she said.
The kids and parents were “grateful, grateful, grateful,” Adams said. “The kids were just so excited. They just wanted to see what was in their bag.”
The gifts given to families were wrapped, meaning that children will be able to wake up Christmas morning with something to open.
On Wednesday, the Christian Pastors Coalition for Change hosted a coat drive at Sycamore Street Church of Christ.
Dr. Montrell Greene, the church’s pastor and president of the coalition, said the drive was simply another way to help the community at a time of need.
“We asked ourselves what we could do to make a difference this season,” he said. “Last year we were giving out food.”
In addition to coats, checks of $150 were issued to about 15 people, collected through donations.
“It’s winter time, and people need coats,” Greene said. “With the money, we noticed we have a lot of grandparents raising children now. Sometimes it’s a struggle.”
“It was a blessing to me,” said Mary Stevenson, 62, of Greenwood, who was selected to receive a check.
Greene said that the collaboration by multiple churches allows for greater response.
“We try to use the collective power or resources of multiple churches instead of just one church trying to tackle things by itself,” Greene said.
Well over 100 coats were distributed.
“We organize our coat drive during this time of the season to help those that’s in need,” said the Rev. Earnest Ware of Word of Faith Missionary Baptist Church. “From the bottom of our heart, the reason why we’re doing it, is that it’s a blessing to others. There’s many out there, kids and others, that need coats.”
He said, “We’re just carrying out the mission we’ve been called to do. As long as we know we can help somebody along the way.”
On Thursday, Zarlando Moody, a Greenwood entrepreneur and musician, hosted a toy drive at 103 Mississippi 7 South. Inspired by need created by the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to start his own giveaway last year.
“I know a lot of people were shut in and sick, so we decided to go in and do a toy drive,” he said.
He used proceeds from his own businesses to fund the endeavor.
Last year’s drive was done on short notice, and he was able to give away about 100 toys. This year, he promoted the effort more and was expecting to distribute nearly 400 toys.
For the community, he said toy drives are “most definitely an uplift.”
“I was once one of those needy kids,” he said, “so once I got able, I decided to give back to the community every chance.”
The Browning Progressive Civic League will close out the week with a toy drive just in time for Christmas on Friday at 10 a.m. at 2315 Carrollton Ave. Toys will be available for children up to age 12.
The league distributed more than 200 last year and looks to increase that to 300 or 400 this year, said its president, Niqua Graham-Brooks.
“I do know we do have some less fortunate people throughout our community,” she said. “I just want to do more. Our league, we want to do more each upcoming year.”
She said she wants those who receive toys to know that the community cares about them. “We’re just hoping that this will give our families and our children a boost and something to look forward to,” she said. “Regardless of your situation, there are people and organizations who actually care about your well-being and trying to help you have a better holiday and not to be worried.”
- Contact Gerard Edic at 662-581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com. Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
