Thousands Of New Toys Distributed Part Of Massive Giveaway In West Garfield Park
CHICAGO (CBS) – Christmas is just days away, but people on Chicago's west side are coming together to make sure all children have toys under their trees this year.
CBS 2's Asal Rezaei visited West Garfield Park where thousands of kids are expected to go home with new toys.
It's a massive toy giveaway. Organizers say they have over 5,000 toys to giveaway and they are just getting started.
Long lines of families waiting as the event kicked off at 10 a.m. this morning. The Black Village Foundation is behind all of this. They said last year the line was so long the street got shut down -- so this year they came prepared.
No matter how many kids you have in your family, each child here gets to go home with three toys.
"We did this last year, so it's our second annual toy drive giveaway. We did it last year due to the pandemic because we knew a lot of people did not have the resources to buy toys, so we just wanted to make it a little easier for them," said Tarhonda Jones, Black Village Foundation.
The pandemic affecting people like Shuzzanne Hubbert, a grandmother who says she has 14 grandchildren to get toys for.
"I got a family that's at home under quarantine they can't get out so I'm just enjoying the weather in line for my daughter," she said.
It's a family affair as the cars lined up, each one leaving with bags of toys for each child inside.
"Grateful and appreciative and thankful," said Teresa Byrd, parent.
One happy kid, Laniyah Gray, says while she's excited to be taking home a few games, to her there's so much more to this holiday.
Laniyah: "I'm very much grateful. You know, Christmas is not just about the toys. so, you know, I'm grateful.
Asal: "What is Christmas about for you?"
Laniyah: "For me, it's about family. It's about family for me."
Whether it's your family or bags of toys you enjoy on Christmas, the toy giveaway is bringing the two together. Organizers said they plan to be here as long as it takes to give away all the toys.