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December 25, 2009

Serving the multitude

Annual tradition at Providence Ministries

By Charles Oliver

Daniel, 6, knew exactly what he wanted and ran directly to a toy truck that seemed almost as big as he was. But Maria, 4, seemed overwhelmed by the thousands of toys on display at Providence Ministries. She just walked silently past them, as her mother asked her what she wanted.

“I would not be surprised if we have more than 2,000 children here today,” said Roy Johnson, executive director of Providence Ministries.

After almost 20 years of providing free meals at Christmas, Providence has the process down to a science. The earliest patrons were ushered into the dining area around 11 a.m., while another group was taken into the chapel, where they heard music and Christmas-themed sermons. When the first group finished their meal, the children were taken in to get their toys, while the people in the chapel were taken to into the dining area and a new group was brought into the chapel.

“I expect we’ll serve about 4,000 meals today,” said Johnson. “And we hope that each child will get three toys. But we may have to stretch it out.”

Volunteers had staked tables with every time of toy imaginable, from board games to stuffed animals to dolls to laser guns to kaleidoscopes.

The children lined up, and volunteers led individual children or families around the table as each child picked out three toys.

“My wife and I came over here about 17 years ago to help out, and we were hooked. We’ve been coming back every year since then, and I’ve become the toy guy” said Ed Johnson, who was helping to coordinate all the volunteers. “We had a lot less kids back then. This has really grown.”

Varnell Mayor Dan Peeples encouraged residents of that city to come help out, and he said about 40 had come down to volunteer with him

“They are so excited to be part of this,” he said. “This is the first year I’ve done this, but it definitely won’t be the last.”

Peeples had chaperoned several children as they selected their gifts.

“They are really amazed. I don’t hear a lot of words. They just say ‘I want this,’” he said. “I know I’ve never seen so many toys.”

Not all of the children were picking out toys for themselves. Varnell’s J.R. Laird, 11, was chaperoning younger children as they picked out their toys.

“I really didn’t have anything else to do today, and I thought it would be great to come and help out,” he said. “They’ve been getting all sorts of toys. One got a tricycle.”

Lauren Powell was helping Oliver, 3, pick out toys.

“He really loves cars,” she said.

Miguel, who would not give his last name, said he was waiting as his children picked out their toys.

“This is great. I was afraid I would not be able to get anything for them, but now they will get toys,” he said.

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