Outreach Community Center Held Annual Toy Giveaway, Served Families

On Sunday December 2 the Outreach Community Center held its 14th annual Christmas toy giveaway from 1 to 4 p.m. at 31 S. Main Street. Toys intended for infants through high school seniors were distributed to parents and guardians only, and no preregistration was required. The giveaway was preceded on Saturday by a toy drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the ministry building where community members dropped off donations.

The event was structured to provide direct, accessible assistance to families facing holiday expenses. By covering a broad age range the distribution sought to include older teens who are sometimes overlooked in seasonal charity efforts. Limiting pickup to parents and guardians focused distribution on primary caregivers, while the lack of preregistration aimed to remove administrative barriers to participation. Organizers emphasized that distribution continued only while supplies lasted, underscoring that demand can exceed available donations in any given year.

For Morgan County residents the giveaway served both practical and civic purposes. Practical benefits included easing the financial burden of holiday gift giving for families with children and teens. Civic benefits included a visible outlet for local generosity through the toy drive that provided the inventory for the Sunday distribution. The annual nature of the event signals a sustained local response to seasonal need and an ongoing role for nonprofit institutions in supplementing community supports.

Residents who depended on the event learned that early arrival mattered because supplies were limited. Those interested in supporting future efforts can contribute to local drives or contact the Outreach Community Center to learn about donation opportunities and timing for next year. Events like this illustrate how community organized assistance, combined with local donations, plays a central role in holiday support across Morgan County.