Toy Drive Marks 25th Year with Video Visit from MT Winter

This marks the 25th year of the Where Love Is Christimas Gift-Giving Ministry to Children in Need, and volunteers were thrilled to see Professor Emerita Miriam Therese Winter cheering them on via video feed from her home in Philadelphia.

The Gift-Giving Ministry began in 2000 with a program to give gifts to children whose mothers were incarcerated in the women’s prison in Niantic. When that program ended, the ministry found a new purpose in providing gifts for needy children in the Greater Hartford area.

Women's Leadership Institute graduate Sandra Russak, who owns Jesa Gift and Toy, has been involved from the beginning, donating thousands of items to stuff gift bags every year that go to children in need. The bags are filled with small toys, coloring books, craft kits, candy, and other fun items.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, a dozen volunteers, including President Sherry L. Turner, filled more than 400 bags. Social workers and school and non-profit representatives will pick up the gift bags on Dec. 10, along with gift cards to buy presents for their clients. The Rev. Gail Williams coordinates the entire project, and she thanked MT for getting her involved and changing her life in many ways.

"I'm so thrilled to be here with all of you," MT said from Philadelphia. "You're doing an amazing job, and it's all for the children."