Gallup Community Toy Drive Delivers Gifts to Over Two Hundred Children

On December 23, Wowie’s Event Center and community volunteers wrapped up an annual holiday drive that delivered roughly 600 toys and about $2,000 in cash to local homes and programs. Organizer Anthony Rosales, owner of Wowie’s Gym and Wowie’s Event Center, coordinated donations that reached more than 230 children served by Christian Child Care, Hogan Hozhoni, Manuelito Navajo Children’s Home, and students at Fort Wingate who were unable to go home for the holiday break.

Rosales has led the effort for about a decade, building a tradition that combines gift giving with community activities. He dressed as the Grinch for visits this year and organized inflatables and other activities at the event site, increasing turnout and local visibility. The fundraiser also partnered with other community initiatives, including Jessie’s Angels led by Esther Sanchez, pooling resources to reach older children who are often overlooked by toy drives that focus on younger age groups.

Local group homes and program directors reported both practical and emotional benefits from the donations, noting the gifts helped meet immediate needs and lifted spirits among residents during a period when many feel isolated. The distribution included presents selected to match age ranges and circumstances, and organizers made a point of supplying items appropriate for teenagers and older children who sometimes fall outside traditional giving programs.

Beyond the immediate relief, the drive illustrated broader institutional gaps in holiday support for children in group care and for students who lack safe housing during breaks. The results highlight the role of grassroots organizing in McKinley County, while also pointing to the potential for more coordinated county level support, sustained funding for group homes, and school district policies to ensure students who cannot return home receive consistent care and services.

As a model of civic engagement, the drive showed how local businesses and nonprofits can mobilize quickly to fill short term needs. At the same time, the scale and recurring nature of the event suggest elected officials and county agencies should assess longer term measures to reduce reliance on episodic charity and ensure equitable support for all children in McKinley County.