Annual Toy Drive Brings Joy to Thousands of Local Children

Albuquerque, NM – Calvary Church will distribute thousands of toys to families in need at Christmas Toy Shop at their Osuna campus on Sunday, December 15 (4-7 pm), and Monday, December 16 (10 am – 6 pm). Families who attended Calvary’s Thanksgiving Pickup Party in November were invited to take part in the Toy Shop experience. This cherished annual tradition, which began in 2014, has become a key part of the church’s outreach to families in need across Central New Mexico.

This year, the Calvary Church toy drive has collected more toys and financial gifts than ever before. Across the church’s three campuses in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, members have generously given so every invited family can shop for their kids. Their generous contributions will ensure an estimated 4,000 local children receive Christmas gifts this year.

Christmas Toy Shop offers a boutique experience where parents and guardians can shop for free toys organized by age range, ensuring each child receives a gift suited to their interests. Free childcare will be provided for children in kindergarten and older on Sunday, and complimentary gift-wrapping stations will be available both days.

This initiative builds on the momentum of the church’s Thanksgiving Pickup Party held last month, where families in need received free Thanksgiving meals, haircuts, family photos, and medical and dental screenings, along with an invitation to this year’s Christmas Toy Shop.

“As we celebrate God’s gift to us—the birth of Jesus—we want to reflect God’s love to our community by helping to meet their physical and spiritual needs,” said Pastor Nate Heitzig. “It’s so encouraging to see the generosity of our community and the impact it has on children and families during this special season.”

Christmas Toy Shop, their annual toy drive distribution event, serves families in Title I-funded schools across the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) district, where 50% or more of students come from economically disadvantaged households. By providing parents the dignity of choosing the perfect gift for their children, Calvary Church’s Christmas Toy Shop fosters a sense of joy, hope, and community during the holiday season.

About Calvary Church
Calvary Church is a fellowship of believers who pursue the God who passionately pursues a lost world; they do this by connecting with one another, through worship, by the Word, to the world. Based in New Mexico, Calvary Church sees over 16,000 weekly in-person attendees, plus a vast online audience around the world. Their purpose is creating life change.

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