Christmas is such a special time of the year, especially for children. Here at The Lovelady Center, we do everything we can to make sure our clients’ children have the best experience possible. They deserve to have a special Christmas with their mother, which many of them have had difficulty experiencing. Keep reading to learn more about how our toy drive works and how you can get involved.
The Lovelady Center Annual Toy Drive
Our goal for our annual toy drive? Every single child should receive a gift from their mother. And it’s really not even about the gift. We believe that a mother being able to give her child a gift is an important step toward healing and restoration. Many of these children have never received a gift from their mothers. This is a way for our clients to give their children both a physical present, as well as their presence.
We generally provide toys to around 1,000 children through our annual toy drive. Mothers are able to visit Santa’s Workshop and pick out a toy that fits their child’s preferences. They can then present their child with a token of their love at a special Christmas-themed event.
How You Can Get Involved
Any gift is appreciated. You can drop off at our front desk Monday–Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. until December 24 or contact us directly for more info. If your business is interested in collecting donations, don’t hesitate to contact us! This year, we have more than 70 establishments collecting gifts for The Lovelady Center’s annual toy drive. You can also bring your donations directly to our center at 7916 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35206.
Again, our clients and their children appreciate any gift. This program focuses more on the meaning behind the gift than the gift itself. That being said, these children deserve a wonderful Christmas, and we would love to see them receive gifts that are exciting and age-appropriate. We’ve been doing this for a while, and we’ve learned a few things.
It may come as no surprise, but teenage boys are the hardest to shop for and gift to. We often do not have many age-appropriate gifts for them. Our suggestion? A GameStop gift card! It shows an acknowledgment of their interests, but also allows them to shop for what they want. Some other ideas for gift cards include Nike, fast food, Best Buy, PlayStation, Xbox, and others along these lines.
Thank You for Your Support
Without your generous support, many children wouldn’t receive a Christmas gift from their mother this year. On behalf of our clients, thank you for your generosity and giving spirit. This toy drive allows our mothers to begin the healing process with their children in a way that benefits everyone. If you’d like to learn more about The Lovelady Center’s mission and programs, click here. You can also sign up for our newsletter. We’d love to get to know you better!