I was hoping Fw would be on today because here's a story I think she would like to hear. So I've mentioned my husband's ministry work in Camden, NJ on Saturdays. On the Saturday before Christmas they put on a huge event in a parking lot in the city where they give out toys and food to the area residents and children. So today, Ollie's offered to open their doors at 6am just to this ministry and 15% off all their toys as a contribution to this year's event. So my husband and his buddies were over there this morning with trucks and vans loading up on toys purchased from money they had from donations to the ministry.
The Christmas event is really something to experience. They bring in 2 tractor trailers and set up one with stuffed animals and the other with all kinds of toys. Everything is hung up on the inside of the truck walls so it looks like a store - very festive. The kids walk through the trucks picking out one stuffed animal and one toy each. As if the kids aren't excited enough since these are often the only toys they ever get on Christmas, as they go to step out of the 2nd truck they walk right into a fenced in area that contains hundreds of bicycles that the ministry has received as donations throughout the year and the kids are told they are allowed to pick out a bike to take home. To see the looks on their faces is NOTHING but priceless!!
I've only been able to make it one year, but am hoping to go again this year with my husband since it looks like I might be scheduled off work that Saturday. It is a very humbling and joyful way to start out the Christmas week.
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