Franciscan Charities, a non-profit organization, held its annual Christmas Toy Drive at St. Rocco's Church in Newark. Watch video
NEWARK -- Many of the children from Newark's West Ward will have a special Christmas this year because of the Franciscan Charities annual toy drive.
Franciscan Charities, a non-profit organization, held its annual Christmas Toy Drive at St. Rocco's Church in Newark on Saturday. The event, started by Gina Ricciardi in 2004, is for children of the working poor. The organization guaranteed that every child who visited the church got a gift this Christmas.
Families started lining up outside the church by 6:30 a.m. bundled up in hats, scarves and coats. Hot chocolate and cookies were served by volunteers while people waited for the doors to open at 9:30 a.m. The toys were expected to continued to be given out until around 2:30 p.m.
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Last year, more than 800 children received gifts.
Tracey Diamond has been volunteering with various organizations for over a decade. This year she thought she'd volunteer at the Christmas toy drive to help others enjoy the magic of the holidays.
"The families and the children are so appreciative of what we are doing for them," she said.
Each child got their photo taken with Santa and then had their choice of one toy from the hundreds the organization collected this year, including barbie dolls, baby dolls, various craft kits, remote control cars, basketballs, bicycles and many types of Star Wars toys.
When 12 year-old Sencier Brown sat down to eat his breakfast this morning all he could think about was what he wanted to get at the toy drive. Some of the things on his list were a basketball, football and bicycle. "I think this is fun because I get to pick out what I want for Christmas," he said. "There are so many choices. I am still trying to make up my mind."
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