Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A lot of children in the Windsor area can look forward to presents under their Christmas tree this year thanks to the recent Lots of Toys for Tots event hosted by Community Harvest Outreach (CHO). 

A Windsor-based nonprofit organization, CHO has hosted this toy giveaway annually for 20 years.

The 2024 edition of the event took place Saturday, Dec. 14, at CHO’s headquarters on Roberts Avenue in Windsor.

“We were able to give out over 560 toys, as well as stocking stuffers,” CHO Chairperson Laequinla Hunter said. “Overall, I felt that the event was a total success.”

She noted that 90% of the children benefitting from the event are from the Windsor area.

Highlighting the organizations that helped make Lots of Toys for Tots possible, Hunter thanked the Windsor Police Department, Windsor Dollar General, Christian Women Alliance, and Missionary Outreach for partnering with CHO.

The Windsor Police Department played a key role by contributing toys from its annual toy drive. The WPD raised $4,600 and spent the majority of it on toys that were distributed at the Lots of Toys for Tots event.

Windsor Police Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle said, “I think Lots of Toys for Tots was successful, as we were able to provide enough toys to meet the demand for the event. Ultimately the goal is to ensure that every child in Isle of Wight is able to enjoy Christmas morning and find some gifts under the tree.”

Hunter indicated that she enjoyed the opportunity to continue CHO’s two-decade-long tradition of distributing toys to families in the area.

“My favorite thing about the event is seeing the joy and the excitement on the families’ faces,” she said.