Gifts provide symbol of hope, resilience

By Kimber Westphall

On Saturday, Dec. 2 from 1:30-5 p.m., Santa and his elves will drive through Lakewood, collecting toys from front yards and loading them up into Santa’s sleigh to benefit the 2,500 children (and their non-offending family members) DCAC will serve this holiday season. 

Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC), the only agency of its kind fighting child abuse in Dallas County and serving more than 13,000 people each year who have experienced the devastating ramifications of criminal child abuse, kicks off its annual “Holiday of Hope” toy drive, which officially takes place Dec. 4 through Dec. 22. The annual toy/gift drive is critical in supporting the nonprofit’s mission and families served during the holiday season. Each year, DCAC helps remove barriers for its families by providing current DCAC clients and their siblings brand new gifts and toys. Each child receives a reading book, a fuzzy blanket and three to four age-appropriate gifts. In addition, all families receive one to two board games to play together.

For children living in the aftermath of criminal child abuse, the holidays can be a highly difficult time. The organization will serve children 0-17, with a focus on providing gifts to teenagers — an often-overlooked population for toy drives. New, unwrapped toys and gifts are due to DCAC by December 8. Then, volunteers in DCAC’s “toy store” will have the opportunity to “shop” for the perfect gifts for each child, based on individual lists their caregivers complete. 

DCAC offers a variety of other ways for North Texans to get involved in Holiday of Hope this year in addition to donating gifts. For more information or to see the route to donate gifts, visit dcac.org/holiday.

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