Christmas came 11 days early for some local children. On Thursday, the Rochester Housing Authority hosted a toy giveaway for the children and families who use their services. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were there to hand out the gifts and families could take free portraits with them. There were also free snacks and beverages.
Rita Johnson was one of the parents in attendance. She lives in Anthony Square, where RHA provides low-income housing. She has six kids and said Christmas can be difficult.
“I’ve been trying to get Christmas together forever and you know it just doesn’t come together for me,” she said. “It’s expensive. Everyone wants the latest and the highest and the most and I personally don’t have it so I appreciate the Rochester Housing Authority coming together. It’s expensive.”
RHA Executive Director John Hill knows that. He said the RHA provides housing but doesn’t stop there because for many, their needs don’t stop there.
“The basic mission of the Housing Authority is to provide quality, safe, clean and affordable housing, but, of course, when you get people in housing, you discover they have other needs. Many of those is with children,” he said.
To make the giveaway possible, Hill said they began collecting toys in early Fall. They also partnered with other organizations, like the Pirate Toy Fund, last year. RHA staff wanted to be sure they had enough toys and by having parents sign up in advance, they didn't have to worry about running out. All children between the ages of 1 and 14 were eligible for a free toy.
"I think this is important because we have a lot of children who don’t have and can’t afford to get gifts," said Johnson. "So when the community comes together as a unit to give out gifts and we as mothers, especially me, I have six children. So I appreciate it. Specifically, it touches my heart.”
This is the 11th year RHA has done their giveaway. In addition to the free toy, each child also received a free book to encourage literacy. Some parents said they would make their kid wait until Christmas day to unwrap their present, but for many children it was just enough to know they had something under the tree this year.