In less than two days, volunteers and staff were able to transform WIN’s community room into Santa’s Workshop. This annual celebration was founded more than 20 years ago by community leader and beloved neighbor Marilyn Evans. Miss Marilyn, passed away days before the Christmas celebration. Her family, who has always been an integral part of WIN’s youth programs, teamed with other volunteers to keep this holiday tradition of giving alive.
Nearly two hundred children and teens participated in this year’s festivities that included a toy giveaway, gift cards for teens, games, and crafts. WIN’s Giving Tuesday online toy drive also provided needed toys. Forty-nine online donors purchased 363 toys for the event. Many of the online gifts came from Fund Evaluation Group LLC (FEG) team members. “When we met the WIN staff this past summer during a volunteer day, we were so impressed with how gracious, kind, and genuinely appreciative they were of our help. We knew immediately they would be the perfect organization for FEG to support during the holidays,” said Trena Mains, vice president of accounting and controller.
WIN is grateful to all of our donors and volunteers who showed neighborhood children how much they cared. Our special thanks to the Evans Family, Bernard Laboratories, Fund Evaluation Group, Integra Group, Jack J. Smith, Jr. Charitable Trust, LaSalle Volunteers, Marine Corps Reserves Toys For Tots, Mr. Gene’s Dog House, the Mosher Family in memory of their son Peter, Robert A. and Marian K. Kennedy
Charitable Trust, South Cumminsville Community Council, and St. James Church.
Read the rest of WIN’s January Update here. Keep an eye out for future community events.