On Dec. 15, the 5th Annual Lemon Grove Toy Giveaway took place as local community organizations collaborated to collect more than 600 toys that were distributed to more than 200 Lemon Grove children.
Local organizations like the Lemon Grove Lions Club, GFWC-Lemon Grove Forward Club, and Improving Lemon Grove played key roles in ensuring the event ran smoothly. On the day of the giveaway, the community’s spirit shone brightly. Santa, Darrel L. Exline, brought holiday cheer to the children, while the Lemon Grove Firefighters, Station 10, arrived with their fire engine to assist in gift distribution.
The festive atmosphere was enhanced by DJ Migz, who kept the crowd entertained with holiday music, and Elevate Coffee & Confections, which served coffee and cookies to attendees. Additional activities, including crafts and a bounce house organized by Improving Lemon Grove and Chris Williams, both of which delighted the children, while Big BoyZ Tacos provided delicious food. The First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove graciously offered its parking lot as the venue for this year’s event.
The event’s success was made possible by the incredible generosity of Lemon Grove residents, who contributed toys through donation boxes provided by LG U-Haul and Home Depot. These boxes were strategically placed at 19 local businesses, including beloved community staples such as Lido’s Italian Foods, Larry H. Miller Toyota, Onyx Moto, El Pollo Grill, VFW Post 2082, Giardino Neighborhood Cucina, and Pure Fruit Bar & Deli. Other participating locations included Family House of Pancakes, Lemon Grove Coffee, Artisan Kings Barbershop, Peacock Nails, Miss Donuts, Lemon Grove Bistro, Sprouts Farmers Market, Elevate Coffee & Confections, Berry’s Athletic Supply, Coop’s West Texas BBQ, and Lemon Grove Antique Mall.
