Coco’s Christmas brings joy
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Joyce Ellis, executive director of LeMoyne Community Center in East Washington, gives away gift cards to community members waiting to shop at Coco’s Christmas, an annual event that distributes new and gently used toys and gifts.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
Lynelle Goins, left, and Stella Banas volunteered to gift wrap presents at Coco’s Christmas, which distributes Christmas gifts and toys to families in the community.
Coco’s Christmas2
Eugene McClain, Santa hat atop his head, lined up outside the LeMoyne Community Center at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, after he completed his 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Walmart.
McClain, of Washington, arrived at the center early to attend Coco’s Christmas, an annual event at which free toys and gifts are distributed to members of the community.
While Joyce Ellis, executive director of the LeMoyne Center, has opened the event to the public regardless of income or need, most of the estimated 1,500 people who were served by Coco’s Christmas were economically disadvantaged.
McClain, who was shopping for Christmas presents for his twin two-year-old daughters, said he has been “financially strapped” recently and walks to and from work because he no longer has a car.
“This is a blessing,” said McClain, 38, of Washington, who picked out toys, clothes, winter coats, gloves and hats for his daughters. “It’s wonderful. Everybody’s been so polite and gracious. Everybody’s smiling. I feel so comfortable.”
Named for Ellis’s Yorkshire Terrier, Coco’s Christmas offers shoppers a choice of household goods, clothing, diapers, toys, electronics and other items that have been donated by businesses, individuals and organizations to the event.
A children’s craft booth, gift wrapping and a meal also were provided.
Said Stephen Thomas, pastor of Legacy Church International, which meets in the LeMoyne Center, “This is what community looks like, when all colors, creeds and ethnicities come together to help each other. This is unity.”
For the first time this year, Coco’s Christmas included senior citizens – most on fixed incomes – who were invited to shop before doors were open to the rest of the public.
“You seniors, I love you. You’ve been working all your lives to help people and to give back. Now, it’s time we give back to you,” said Ellis.
Several of the women from Bellmeade picked up toys and other items for their grandchildren.
Carolyn Myatt, 83, and Barbara Rishel, 82, were moved by the event, and by the generosity and kindness shown by the volunteers.
“I’m extremely impressed with the organization, the loving greetings of the volunteers, and their willingness to help us seniors,” said Myatt. “The love that is being spread here is beautiful.”
About 100 volunteers helped at the event, and local businesses donated a warming center and portable toilets to accommodate the long lines.
Items and food that was not used when Coco’s Christmas ended were donated to Washington City Mission and Greater Washington Area Food Bank.
Coco’s Christmas began as an incentive program to teach children the value of giving back.
After completing tasks, they earned Coco Bucks to purchase items from a store of donated items. When the center acquired a surplus of items, Coco’s Christmas was launched.
Ellis said she is thankful for the community’s help in putting together the event.
“I felt the community did a wonderful job,” said Ellis. “It is immeasurable how their contributions helped.”