Grandale Corps Toy Shop Spreads Joy in Detroit Community
*Grandale Corps Toy Shop
On Wednesday, December 20 the Grandale Corps hosted their annual Toy Shop. With toys and clothing for children of all ages, there were plenty of options for Detroit families in need this Christmas.
Toy Shop attendees lined up at the gym door to sign in, then a volunteer guided them through the tables so they could select their toys. As an additional blessing, there were “Bountiful Boxes,” packed with food for a complete Christmas meal donated by Bank of America.
*Bountiful Boxes ready for distribution
*Toys for infants at the Toy Shop
One toy shop attendee, Demetrius, expressed his gratitude for the toys and what they will mean for his daughters:
“I feel really good about it. I just came here with my four daughters. I’m not working right now, so this is a big help when I’ve got no income.”
Another attendee, Daja, is a single mother who will be undergoing brain surgery in a couple weeks. With the added stress of worrying about her health, paying bills, and taking care of her children, the toys are making things a little easier.
“I’m a single mother, and I only bought what I could. And I thank God for the extra,” Daja said.
*Toy Shop attendee, Daja
Some of the toys were donated by Victorious Women Ministries, a charitable group founded by Dr. Victoria E. Jones, who was inspired by The Salvation Army’s generosity when she was only a child. Her full story can be found here.
Victorious Women Ministries brought $3,000 worth of toys for girls ages 9 – 10, an age range that that was behind last week.
For volunteers at the Toy Shop, seeing attendees blessed with toys, clothes, and food is very inspiring. Volunteer Nealaya is a member of the Grandale Corps Community Center church and has been volunteering there for 11 years.
“I’ve been doing this for 11 years and every year it gets better and better, and I really enjoy it. The attendees have been very grateful and appreciative.”
*Volunteer Nealaya
Also assisting at the Toy Shop was Auxiliary Captain Jamiah, who works at the Grandale Corps Community Center.
“The families were appreciative, teary-eyed. You don’t know what people are going through, it doesn’t matter if they get something big, something small, as long as they have something to give to their kids.”
*Grandale Auxiliary officer, Captain Jamiah
*Grandale Corps Officer, Envoy Jackie Ellingson, assists a Toy Shop attendee
For members of the Grandale community, the Toy Shop has been a true blessing that is sure to make their Christmas a little brighter.
If you would like to support great programs like the Toy Shop, you can donate to The Salvation Army now. And thanks to The Consortium of Hope, all donations from now till New Year’s Eve will be doubled.