Toy drive and holiday meal help bring in the spirit of Christmas
Published 12:10 am Tuesday, December 24, 2024
Santa talks with Adriel Torres, 3, about Christmas wishes at the annual Toy Drive at the Reach Church Saturday. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
Keiondia Taylor, 12, loves her new Christmas bike picked up at the annual toy drive at the Teen Center on Bank Street. Organized by Tranise Brown, in partnership with the city's Parks and Recreation Department and the Reach Church, the event gave away 125 bikes this year in addition to toys. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
Keisha Coxe, left, director of Salisbury parks and recreation and Tranise Brown, who organizes the toy drive every year, were both beyond happy for the progam's success again this year. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
David and Hattie Fennell, mom and dad to the late Travis Fennell, who, with his wife Tranise Brown, has organized the Toy Drive for the last 15 years and counting. The Fennells continue to support Tranise in her efforts to maintain the legacy she and her husband started. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
Keiondia Taylor, 12, loves her new Christmas bike picked up at the annual toy drive at the Teen Center on Bank Street. Organized by Tranise Brown, in partnership with the city's Parks and Recreation Department and the Reach Church, the event gave away 125 bikes this year in addition to toys. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
Members of the senior team with 2AM Photography posed with Santa at the annual toy drive and Reach Church dinner Saturday. Students participate in volunteer projects throughout the year and can qualify for a scholarship at year's end. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
Members of the Reach Church put together homemade meals to go for families during the annual church dinner and toy drive Saturday. Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci
SALISBURY — Tranise Brown and her late husband, Travis Fennell, started a toy drive for children in need 15 years ago, and this year, with the help of Fennell’s parents, Brown once again invited families to sign up to receive a toy and a bicycle for their children.
This year, Brown teamed up with the Reach Church on West Horah Street and the city’s department of Parks and Recreation for the event, held Saturday, Dec. 21. The event spanned two locations, the church and the Teen Center on Bank Street, and incorporated the church’s annual meal.
Each child whose family signed up was allowed to choose a toy, and a bike to take home on Saturday morning, and families who signed up for the meal picked up their food from the church during the day. Families were given menus and asked to make selections, then members of the church packed the meals to go. Members of the church did all the cooking as well. It tied in perfectly with the toy drive, said Brown, because families could stop and pick up both meals and the gifts.
Brown started the event because of her own childhood.
“I was poor as a child,” she said. “And I knew I wanted to make sure other children could have the gifts that I did not. I’ve always wanted to give back.” She and Fennell, throughout the years, have hosted numerous charitable events, including the toy drive, and this year, Brown said she was grateful that his parents “have stepped into that space and stood by my side the whole way.”
“When they were together, when you saw one, you saw the other,” said David Fennell, Travis’ father. “Travis would call us and ask us to help, and we’re glad to be carrying on his legacy, and helping Tranise.”
“This is about giving back to our community and our children,” said Parks and Recreation Director Keisha Coxe. Asked if the department planned to continue the partnership, she said “We have to.”
“The blessing behind this is not only seeing the kids smiling,” added Assistant Director Rakeem Brawley. “It’s knowing that we have taken some of the weight off the parents’ shoulders.”
2AM Photography, another participant, offered those in attendance the chance for free photos with Santa, and members of their senior group were volunteers in helping things run smoothly with picking up meals.
The organization offers seniors who apply an opportunity to perform volunteer work during the year, and at the end of the year, there is a scholarship available. This year there are eight participating seniors from various high schools. This is the sixth year of the program.
One hundred and twenty-five bikes and numerous tables laden with gifts were nearly depleted by early afternoon, but that is what was intended, said Brown. Overall, more than 300 families registered for the toy drive, she said, and she thanked sponsors Javon Hargrave, Zeek Biggers, The Reach Church, Pastor Tim Bates, Promise City Church “and a host of others” who made the day possible.
