Hundreds of children throughout the Twin Cities will be able to celebrate Christmas a little early at a local toy giveaway.
Leading up to the Dec. 14 giveaway event at a community center in Minneapolis, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Twin Cities — with St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights as a partner — collected over 600 new toys for children, primarily 12 years old and younger, who otherwise might not receive such gifts for Christmas.
Wayne Bugg, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Twin Cities, said the number of toys collected this year was among the highest so far in the drive and giveaway’s roughly 10-year history.
Bugg said the idea for the toy drive and giveaway formed years ago when society staff began hosting a Christmas photo opportunity for families. During those events, Bugg said, people talked about their Christmases and how some wanted to provide toys for their children but couldn’t do so. Bugg said society staff started asking, “How can we fill in the gaps?”
The toy drive was launched, with roughly 50 toys gathered for the first giveaway event, Bugg said. Contributions to the event have grown, with church groups and other community members now donating toys for the drive.
“It’s an example (of) when the body of Christ comes together and works together, they can do mighty exploits,” Bugg said.
St. Thomas Academy students and staff were among those who gathered toys for the giveaway this year. The school has participated for the past five years, said Joel Loecken, department chair of theology at the school who has also helped with the school’s involvement in the toy drive and giveaway.
Loecken explained there is a $20 to $25 request for gifts and each grade level at the school is assigned an age group for their gifts. There is a goal of one gift for each of the children who attend the toy giveaway, Loecken said. This year, St. Thomas Academy set a goal of 500 toys; they exceeded that goal by 100.
Leighton Gates, a senior at St. Thomas Academy, has been involved in the toy drive and giveaway for the four years he’s attended the school. He explained that during the drive, students, who are divided into eight groups called companies, drop off their gifts at a Christmas tree at the school’s entrance.
“You get credit for it for your company and then whichever company brought in the most gifts wins a special prize,” Gates said.
Alongside the friendly competition among students participating is enthusiasm to bring Christmas joy to the children receiving the gifts.
“I think hearing the stories and seeing the faces of the kids pick up their gift is by far the most emotional, and that’s what really makes me passionate about having this as a part of our school each year,” Gates said. “Knowing that kids are given the opportunity to have a jolly Christmas is something that really warms our hearts here and I think that’s why we have such high participation in this, because we know the impact that it has on the community as a whole.”
Loecken said roughly a dozen students also planned to volunteer at the giveaway to set up toy tables, help with gift wrapping and hand out the gifts.
“It’s been awesome for us here (at St. Thomas Academy) to know that we support such a great cause and working with St. Vincent de Paul is just incredible,” Gates said.
Also available at this year’s toy giveaway event will be coats for both children and adults offered through a partnership with Burlington and the nonprofit Delivering Good, Bugg said. Additionally, people who attend the event are able to pick up pairs of new socks.
“To be able to provide people this warm clothing is just another element of the Christmas experience,” Bugg said.
Bugg said for him, the giveaway event called to mind a verse from the Gospel of Luke, as the angel tells the shepherds of Christ’s birth: “The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’” (Lk 2:10).
“The part about ‘for all the people’ — this is an event where all the people are welcome,” Bugg said. “We’ve got community members, we’ve got church members, we even have people from government agencies (participating) … we’re operating on a level of peace and communion and fellowship for all, where all feel valued and invited.”
“I hope for it to be a catalyst for the upcoming year,” Bugg said, “for us to continue to work together.”
In addition to assisting those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, the society operates two thrift stores — one in St. Paul, one in Minneapolis — filled with donated clothing, furniture, kitchenware, books, toys and other items. Learn more about the nonprofit and its outreach online at svdpmpls.org.
