Hundreds of toys are donated for children in need at event attended by U.S. congressman Charles Rangel and other community leaders
During the holiday, not all children will have gifts under the Christmas tree. Whether because of financial strains or family issues, countless youth, minorities especially, go without experiencing the love and spirit of Christmas.
In an attempt to ease those troubles, barber to the stars Dennis “Denny Moe” Mitchell and other community leaders came together over the weekend to spread that good ole holiday cheer.
The love was surely felt in Harlem at the famous Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop, as organizers helped host the 8th annual Christmas Toy Drive. The community event welcomed dozens of children inside the shop where each child received a donated toy gift.
Many of the children who attended the drive were brought through family services in Harlem, while others lived in the community. The youngsters grinned from ear to ear as they opened gifts ranging from toy cars to play dolls.
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“I think that every child should be able to enjoy the blessings of receiving, and when they grow up and become adults they should be able to enjoy the blessings of giving and being givers,” said Denny Moe, who’s cut the likes of Doug E. Fresh, Keith Sweat and New Edition.
Toys and cash were donated by community members and co-sponsored by Super Bowl Champion Carl Banks, as well as K.T. Nelson, Rayland Van Blake and Rege C. Lewis, founders of the KT (Knights Thriving) Foundation Inc., a mentor program for youth.
Harlem’s political elite also came out for the cheerful and charitable event. U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel and councilwoman Inez Dickens were all smiles as they attended and posed for a photo opt. Other attendees from the community were Marsha Bonner of Marshahugs and Rege C. Lewis.
Hundreds of toy gifts were hand delivered to the barbershop, with extras to be given to a local shelter just in time for Christmas day.
“Since the loss of both my parents, holidays are always tough for me, but this year I decided to do something different with the other founders and bring some joy as well as awareness to the community,” said Nelson of the KT Foundation.
The toy drive festivities began on Monday, Dec. 15 at speaker and performing artist Shaun Derik‘s Good Night Holiday Jazz party, where each guest was encouraged to bring a toy donation. The main event, which was Saturday at Denny Moe’s, brought in a total of 250 toys.
Though children were thrilled to receive their toy gifts, the icing on the cake was a story book reading session and meet-and-greet with Santa Claus himself.
Now that’s what Christmas is all about.
(Photo: Randy Clarke for the KT Foundation)