HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE
For more than a decade, The Circle of Love has held their annual community-wide toy drive for children who are at risk of being overlooked during the holidays.
The inaugural drive was held in 2004 and provided gifts to just 31 children. Today, more than 50 boxes are filled each year during the holidays, providing enough toys to allow each child The Circle of Love supports to receive six presents a piece. Together, The Circle of Love and its volunteers have provided more than 25,000 gifts to children all across the Birmingham-metro.
Having a gift to unwrap on Christmas may seem trivial, but for some of these children, it may be the only gift they receive all year. To them, it means the world.
These presents represent hope in what may feel like a hopeless season. They show these brave children that Santa will always find them, even when they have no home for him to visit. And these gifts let each and every child the Circle of Love supports know they have not been forgotten.
You never know how something as simple as letting a child know someone cares could affect his or her future outlook on life.
If The Circle of Love can provide hope, happiness and a positive Christmas experience in the midst of these kids’ otherwise uncertain lives, then our goal is accomplished.
PARTICIPATE IN THE TOY DRIVE
You can donate new toys to be picked up from your home by organization members or donations can be dropped off at our offices – located in the Southlake Plaza off Valleydale Road in Hoover – Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Your place of work is also invited to collect gifts for Circle of Love benefactors. To participate please contact us to let us know your company would like to sponsor a toy box.
Organization members will deliver a huge, beautifully wrapped box to place out in front of your offices. We ask patrons to fill it with toys and gifts for the children we sponsor. A list of needed items, determined by the shelters supported, will be provided. Children typically range from three to 13 years of age.
One of our staff will then come pick up the box as the holidays get closer, or you can deliver it to our offices, where Circle of Love volunteers sort each toy by gender, age, and category – sort of like an in-office toy store – and then divide them up and deliver them to shelters in need.
Would you like to know more about the Circle of Love’s annual toy drive? Click here to contact one of our members about what part you can play.
