Charity Seeks Donations for Christmas Toy Drive

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The House of Our Lady's Divine Mercy, or "House of Mercy," a nonprofit organization that helps local families by providing food, clothing and educational training, is asking residents to help support their Christmas/holiday toy drive this year.

“We are urgently asking our friends and benefactors to help us reach out to the needy children in our community,” said founder Kellie Ross. “Due to the increase in the number of people requesting assistance this year, the House of Mercy is projecting a shortfall of toys to distribute at our Christmas with Mercy Program on Dec. 15.”

As of Dec. 10, House of Mercy reported that they were still short an estimated 200-300 toys. They urgently need those toys so  parents, who receive assistance from and take classes with House of Mercy, can shop for Christmas gifts for their children come Dec. 15. To make that "Christmas miracle" possible for local boys and girls in need, they are turning to the community for help.

House of Mercy asks that individuals donate new and unwrapped gifts of clothing or toys for children, babies and teens. Needed clothing items include new coats, hats, mittens, gloves and new sneakers, boots or dress shoes for ages one month to 17 years.

Children are also asking for gifts of baby dolls, doll houses, bikes, tricycles and other “ride-on” toys, board games, race cars and tracks, learning games, hair accessories, DVDs, books and electronics. They will also accept learning games, building blocks, toiletry items for teens and religious items, such as new rosaries.

Additionally, they will accept financial donations and gift cards. Ross suggests gift cards toWalmart, Target, Payless and Giant.

Any gently used items will not be given as Christmas gifts, but will be accepted for sale in their second-hand store, which raises money for the nonprofit’s operational costs.

All parents receiving gifts this year are part of low-income families who have undergone financial independence classes with House of Mercy within the designated time frame. The House of Mercy created this as a condition, so they could help move their families from assistance to a self-sustaining future.

The House of Mercy is located at 8170 Flannery Court in Manassas, near Merrifield Garden Center on Wellington Road. The toy drop-off deadline is Dec. 14.

The House of Mercy thanks everyone for their help and assistance and wishes them happy holidays.

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