Albany woman brings Christmas toys to area children for second year with help from friends
Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin
By Alan Mauldin
[email protected]
ALBANY — Several Albany families who recently moved into housing after being homeless for a period got something extra for the holidays, with a number of area businesses combining to provide toys to children.
The toy drive, organized by Alexis King, general manager of SA Recycling, is in its second year. On Wednesday, the toys were distributed both to clients of Strive2Thrive, an Albany organization dedicated to helping families move out of poverty, and Boys & Girls Clubs participants.
This year a Bingo fundraiser brought in about $2,300, King said, and provided toys to about 55 children, up from the toys provided for 14 children last year.
In addition, Invenergy, a national developer of clean energy products, donated $2,000 toward the effort. The company developed a large solar field located in Mitchell County.
“It’s just something I enjoy doing every year,” King said. “We’re looking at expanding and growing this every year. We did it for the Boys & Girls Clubs on the east side last year. I just love to see their faces. One of the moms came up and said if we didn’t do this, (her) kid wouldn’t have had a Christmas.”
The Bingo event was held recently, with Craft Axe Throwing providing the venue at no charge. Officials with Mellow Mushroom pitched in with prizes for Bingo winners, and Little Caesars provided free pizza for participating players.
“These are just some of the amazing people who donated services,” said King, who added she hopes to make next year’s Christmas toy giveaway even bigger. She said she plans to work with Invenergy and other donors to provide other fundraising events.
“We’re looking at something for back-to-school to help the kids in this area,” she said. “We’re looking at expanding and growing. This is much-needed for the people.”
At the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Albany, Alvita Swain, the executive director of Strive2Thrive, was among those helping hand out toys to the families. Some of those who received toys are beneficiaries of the city of Albany’s Department of Community and Economic Development’s rapid rehousing program, and others were involved in their organization’s working mom’s group.
“The majority of them we are providing toys for are moving into housing in the last two or three months from homelessness,” she said. “This is very important for them because not only will they have new housing, they’ll be able to provide toys for their children for Christmas.
“Strive2Thrive provides a hand-up, not a hand-out. That’s what we’re doing today. We’re providing a hand-up for Christmas.”
For more information or to donate to the Christmas toy program, email King at [email protected].
For Brandon Melton, the experience of buying the toys with King was a great one. He also was on hand to pass out the toys.
“It means more to us to give toys, to give the actual product to the children,” he said. “It melted my heard last year to give what we did. We wanted to be more involved this year.”
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