RICHMOND, Va. – The holidays aren’t most wonderful time of the year for everyone, and some deadlines to register with nonprofit groups have already passed.
Vanessa Smith has been worried about how she and her husband can provide for three little ones this Christmas.
“It's very hard, especially when my husband is on disability, as you can see, we have trouble finding things we need, we only get by with only his check."
Miss Community Clovia helps keep the Radio One toy drive going each year.
That is where Miss Community Clovia – and her big heart – enters the picture. She said stories like Vanessa’s is what keeps the Radio One toy drive going each year.
Radio One will collect thousands of donated toys during a huge three-day toy drive. They will distribute the gifts to families who send in letters by the deadline.
The letters must be sent or dropped off at the following address, by Wednesday, November 30:
Radio One Toy Drive
2809 Emerywood Parkway, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23294
Parents who apply must include their full name, address and phone number in the letter.
They must also include the sex and age of the children who will receive the gifts
Once the families are selected, they will receive a letter in the mail for the toy distribution day; that will be held at a secret location.
Miss Community Clovia said they'll give toys collected from generous donors at the upcoming collection drives to 1,000 families.
“December 6 we are going to be at the Walmart in Short Pump and the 6, 7 and 8th at the Walmart on Sheila Lane. Please bring new, unwrapped toys, bicycles and electronics for children ages 2-13.”
Ricky Johnson and Friends Foundation will also give away 10,000 toys.
For its tenth year, the Ricky Johnson and Friends Foundation will also give away 10,000 toys during toy parades in Richmond and Petersburg, where they've also partnered with schools.
“We’ve partnered with the Petersburg School System,” Johnson said. “We are going to send out notices and kids will know when to meet us at their school on December 17th and we'll bless kids with toys.”
And to celebrate 10 years of giving toys, Johnson has a huge holiday surprise up his sleeve.
“We are going to bless a family with a car. It will be on a tow truck in our parade with a red bow. We'll stop and I’m going to give the keys and the title to someone this year in the city of Richmond.”
