Debbie Patterson, director of Feed the Hungry, called this year’s event the “best yet” due to the collaboration of the business community and the generosity of donors.
The event attracted about 1,000 people — children and their parents and guardians — and included free face painting, food, pictures with Santa, presents and 200 children won bikes in a raffle.
In past years, the children were handed wrapped Christmas presents, not knowing if the gift was appropriate for them, Patterson said. So this year, the parents/guardians picked out the gifts, wrapped them and took them home so their child would be surprised Christmas morning.
Some of those who supported the event were BB Rents, a property management company that purchased the bikes, Weatherington Swim Club, Miami Valley Gaming, Hightowers Petroleum, Crossroads Church, Gold Star Chili, Robert Haley and Dan Tracy.
“We had a great team this year,” Patterson said.
The support and collaboration were “instrumental in bringing our vision to life and making a positive impact in our community,” said Brittny Johnson, administrative director of Feed the Hungry.
She said the overwhelming response from the community “only reaffirms the spirit of giving and kindness” that exists in the city.
Feed the Hungry Project is a non-profit organization that was founded by Louella Thompson in 1987. Ten years later she opened the Dream Center. She died on Jan 25, 2005, but her dream continues today.
The center serves over 34,000 meals annually to the homeless, unemployed, and working families below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, Johnson said. Many children the organization helps attend schools where most qualify for free or reduced meals; 83% are minorities, and 70% come from single-parent homes, she said.
Patterson was asked what Thompson must be thinking nearly 20 years after her death.
“She had to be smiling down on us,” she responded.
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