Langley singer-songwriter Nikita Graham was pleasantly surprised by the response to the first-ever From Your Heart Christmas Toy Drive.
Held Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Punch Out Parkinson’s wellness centre and Box2Fit gym in Langley, the event, organized by Graham, filled a table with about 200 toys and drew a “few hundred” people to drop by for festive music, a photo-op with Santa, facepainting, and more.
The first 'From your heart' Christmas toy drive drew a good response in Langley on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/4Ste2iAoEN
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) November 30, 2024
“It was amazing,” a delighted Graham told the Langley Advance Times.
Inspired by “From Your Heart,” a song she wrote for her children, the event also represented a continuation of a family tradition of helping for Graham.
“I’ve kind of grown up with a family that tried to always give back,” Graham recalled.
“Growing up, we used to sponsor families at Christmas time, and then we would go and feed the homeless people and do stuff like that. So as a kid, that was kind of ingrained into my life.”
In the song, Graham sings “When winter is cold, we can shine our light/Stand up for each other by doing what’s right/When we make a new friend, we can lend them a helping hand.”
She wanted her kids, son Lexon and daughter Avairess, to know “this is something we do as a family every year.”
“It’s important to also give back. And my little guy, you know, he’s only two-and-a-half, so he’s at the age where he kind of gets it, kind of doesn’t, but we’ve been talking about it a lot,” Mom said.
“We always try to have little goody bags and stuff in the car, and we’ll hand [people in need] some snacks or things like that.”
All of the items donated at the Saturday toy drive –new unwrapped toy and non-perishables – will be distributed by Options Community Services, which helps families and individuals in need in Langley, Surrey, White Rock, and Delta.
Graham, who is working on an album of children’s songs, is planning to hold another toy drive next year.
Frankie La Sasso, co-founder of Punch Out Parkinson’s, was on hand for the donation drive on Saturday.
“More than anything, it’s for the community to get together and and help those in need by bringing a toy and helping children… by bringing a gift for someone who might not be able to afford one,” said La Sasso.
