Rock Church 27th Annual Toys for Joy Helps 5100 Attendees

SAN DIEGO - Dec. 22, 2023 - PRLog -- This 27th Annual Toys for Joy was more than a charity toy drive; it was a massive, multi-site Christmas party! Spearheaded by Rock Church, this annual celebration attracted 5,103 attendees across twelve unique events in San Diego County, each bustling with activities and giveaways, including free toys, groceries, haircuts, and live entertainment.

The festivities kicked off on December 9 with events at Rock Church Point Loma and Loma Verde Elementary School in Chula Vista. Lines formed as excited children and families prepared to enter the toy distribution rooms and family fun zones. Hundreds of volunteers were the unsung heroes of the day, their faces beaming with the joy of giving.

Judah Buxton described his desire to serve this way: "It's the love of Jesus that we're here to give out today. 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."

The spirit of generosity continued from December 12 to 15 with community dinners hosted in El Cajon, San Marcos, and City Heights, one of which was hosted fully in Spanish. These dinners were designed to bless guests with a warm meal, toys, and an opportunity to celebrate the gift of Christmas in community.

So far, an impressive total of 35,834 pounds of groceries, 6,148 meals, 7,360 clothing items, 407 haircuts, and 291 manicures were distributed. Each figure represents the heartfelt support extended to San Diego families during a season that can be challenging for some.

With 6,601 toys distributed, the joy at Toys for Joy was palpable, lighting up countless faces with smiles. The hope among staff and volunteers was that these toys would remind children and families that they are loved and cared for, regardless of what they are facing.

Senior Pastor of Rock Church, Pastor Miles McPherson, commented, "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."

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.

As Christmas draws near, Rock Church invites everyone to their Christmas production on December 22 and 23 and their Christmas Eve services across all campuses. Details can be found at sdrock.com/christmas.