DN begins holiday toy drive

The Gateway Church in partnership with the Ministerial Alliance will be hosting their annual toy drive again this year. Last year, local churches helped provide toys and food for 200 families./Photo by Lyndsie Ferrell

DEL NORTE— The San Luis Valley Ministerial Alliance that consists of churches in the Del Norte area will be hosting their annual toy drive again this year. According to Gateway Church Pastor Gregory Schaffer there are an additional two churches that will join several others this year to collect toys and canned goods for the event.

“We are happy to welcome the Del Norte Catholic Church and New Life Church to the Ministerial Alliance. The other churches include Pioneer Church, Cornerstone Church and Holy Name of Mary Church. All of which will be collecting for the coming community outreach event that will be held on Dec. 22. We are asking the community to come out and donate anything they can,” said Schaffer.

The event has taken place for the last two years as part of an effort to provide to families during the holidays that would otherwise go without. Over 200 families were helped last year, and the alliance hopes to double that number, but can only do so if the community comes together and donates. “We rely on the good of people during the holiday season to give to this wonderful cause. We are only able to give out what has been donated to us, so we are asking people to grab an extra toy or some canned goods to donate while they are out shopping,” said Schaffer.

The event will take place at the Rio Grande County Annex building located in Del Norte from 9 a.m. until noon and will be first-come, first-serve only. Last year, a line of people stretched all the way around the building as families gathered for a chance to be able to have a Christmas dinner and toys for their children. “It was such an amazing thing to see and an even more amazing thing to offer to the community. So many families go without, and we want to try and minimize the number in any way we can,” said Schaffer.

In addition to the toy drive, the Gateway Church will also be hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, Nov. 25 after their morning services. “We gather food throughout the year to have prepared by volunteers for Thanksgiving. We have all the fixings and several turkeys for those who wish to come join us,” said Schaffer. The dinner will be held at the church located on Grande Avenue in Del Norte beginning at noon and is open to the public.

Those who wish to donate can drop off unwrapped toys and canned good to any of the above churches Tuesday through Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Gateway Church and on Sundays during service. Each church will have two large boxes located near the entrance for donations. Toys should be unwrapped and can be for either a boy or a girl.

On Dec. 22, church staff asks that both parents and children are present for the event. Children cannot attend alone. For more information, please contact Pastor Greg Schaffer at 719-657-3681.