Rock Church had a busy December with its 27th Toys for Joy outreach which attracted 5,103 attendees across twelve events in San Diego County with activities, giveaways, free toys, groceries, haircuts, and live entertainment.
The church’s festivities began on Dec. 9 in Chula Vista at Loma Verde Elementary School as children and families went through the toy distribution room and family fun zones. Hundreds of volunteers, all dressed in Christmas attire, helped bring a successful event for disadvantaged children.
Chula Vista Mayor John McCann said he was excited to see what was happening at the school in a press release.
“I really want to thank Loma Verde Elementary School and Rock Church,” he said. “We’re making sure that our community can come together to fill their needs and also enjoy each other during this Christmas season.”
Rock Church member Judah Buxton said his desire to serve was because it was “the love of Jesus” that they were giving out to participants.
“God is love, and Jesus is the message of His love to the entire world. And so this is a moment that we get to share that love. We get to share it with the children, we get to share it with the families, and we consider that a huge opportunity and a privilege to do that for the community,” he said.
The spirit of generosity continued from Dec. 12 – 15 with community dinners hosted in El Cajon, San Marcos, and City Heights, one hosted fully in Spanish. These dinners were designed to provide guests with a warm meal, toys, and an opportunity to celebrate the gift of Christmas in community.
“One of our values at the Rock is Jesus is our message, and our Toys for Joy event is our most tangible expression of that. They are getting the gospel, but they are also getting toys, food, haircuts, and clothes, so we want to thank all the team members, all the staff, and all the donors who made this possible,” said Rock Church Senior Pastor Miles McPherson.
This year’s Toys for Joy events also marked a significant outreach beyond San Diego, with Rock Church Oahu serving families displaced by the Lahaina fire in Maui. An event was held for fire victims on December 15, complete with toy distributions, bounce houses, and a nativity.
So far, a total of 35,834 pounds of groceries, 6,148 meals, 7,360 clothing items, 407 haircuts, and 291 manicures were distributed, and 6,601 toys distributed.
“The most exciting part about Toys for Joy this year is being able to serve families dinner,” Rock Church leader Andrea Adams stated. “Growing up with a single mom, we didn’t have the resources to sit down for dinner as a family at a restaurant. To be able to be served, like at a restaurant, is a huge blessing. And to be able to do that for other families so they can experience community and connection makes serving completely worth it.”
Rock Church is already gearing up for the next Toys for Joy, reaffirming their commitment to this annual celebration. For more information, visit www.toys-for-joy.org.
