This year’s Toys for Joy outreach – now in its 27th year – was more than a charity toy drive; it was a massive, multi-site Christmas party! Spearheaded by Rock Church, this annual celebration attracted 5,103 attendees across twelve unique events in San Diego County, each bustling with activities and giveaways, including free toys, groceries, haircuts, and live entertainment.
The festivities kicked off on the morning of December 9 with events at Rock Church Point Loma and Loma Verde Elementary School in Chula Vista. Lines formed as excited children and families prepared to enter the toy distribution rooms and family fun zones. Hundreds of volunteers, all donned in festive Christmas attire, were the unsung heroes of the day, their faces beaming with the joy of giving.
Several community leaders were also present for the December 9 events, including Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, who celebrated at Loma Verde.
McCann shared, “I’m just so excited for what’s happening today. I really wanted to thank Loma Verde Elementary School and the Rock Church. We’re making sure that our community can come together to fill their needs and also enjoy each other during this Christmas season.”
In the midst of the cheerful atmosphere, one could witness countless moments of kindness: a volunteer patiently tying a balloon for an excited child, a mother’s grateful smile as she received much-needed clothing for her family, and the joyful laughter of children as they played a variety of games.
The heart behind all of these activities was to share the same love and generosity that Rock Church members feel Jesus has extended to them.
Judah Buxton described his desire to serve this way: “It’s the love of Jesus that we’re here to give out today. God is love, and Jesus is the message of His love to the entire world. And so this is a moment that we get to share that love. We get to share it with the children, we get to share it with the families, and we consider that a huge opportunity and a privilege to do that for the community.”
The spirit of generosity continued from December 12 to 15 with community dinners hosted in El Cajon, San Marcos, and City Heights, one of which was hosted fully in Spanish. These dinners were designed to bless guests with a warm meal, toys, and an opportunity to celebrate the gift of Christmas in community.
“The most exciting part about Toys for Joy this year is being able to serve families dinner,” Rock Church leader Andrea Adams commented. “Growing up with a single mom, we didn’t have the resources to sit down for dinner as a family at a restaurant. To be able to be served, like at a restaurant, is a huge blessing. And to be able to do that for other families so they can experience community and connection makes serving completely worth it.”
This year’s Toys for Joy events also marked a significant outreach beyond San Diego, with Rock Church Oahu serving families displaced by the Lahaina fire in Maui. An event was held for fire victims on December 15, complete with toy distributions, bounce houses, and a nativity. An additional outreach will be held later this month in Oahu, focused on blessing at-risk youth through partnership initiatives.
So far, an impressive total of 35,834 pounds of groceries, 6,148 meals, 7,360 clothing items, 407 haircuts, and 291 manicures were distributed. Each figure represents the heartfelt support extended to San Diego families during a season that can be challenging for some.
With 6,601 toys distributed, the joy at Toys for Joy was palpable, lighting up countless faces with smiles. The hope among staff and volunteers was that these toys would remind children and families that they are loved and cared for, regardless of what they are facing.
Senior Pastor of Rock Church, Pastor Miles McPherson, commented, “One of our values at the Rock is Jesus is our message, and our Toys for Joy event is our most tangible expression of that. They are getting the gospel, but they are also getting toys, food, haircuts, and clothes, so we want to thank all the team members, all the staff, and all the donors who made this possible.”
Rock Church is already gearing up for the next Toys for Joy, reaffirming their commitment to this annual celebration. For more information, visit www.toys-for-joy.org
