BURLESON, Texas (BP) – Nothing says “I love you” to a child during Christmas like a toy, and in Johnson County, Texas, one ministry hopes to say “I love you” to hundreds of children.
Kaleigh’s Sleigh, a ministry helping families provide toys for their children, is named for Kaleigh Rhea Moss, who died in 2020 at age 22 from a pulmonary embolism.
“Six months after Kaleigh’s death, God awoke my heart to the name ‘Kaleigh’s Sleigh’ for the toy drive,” said organizer Julie Pool. “And with the blessing of Kaleigh’s wonderful parents, Kaleigh’s Sleigh took flight.” Because Kaleigh loved horses, Pool made sure that the logo for the sleigh has a painted horse.
Last year, at NorthPointe Church in Burleson, Texas, the Kaleigh’s Sleigh Toy Drive saw more than 100 volunteers bless more than 750 children with new toys, bicycles and school supplies. Organizers expect to serve many more children this year.
“Our hearts’ desire has always been to serve in our own backyard and to help our direct neighbors, and that is why we only serve families who live in the Johnson County boundary,” Pool said.
The toy drive was first organized by Julie Pool’s husband Joshua, a chiropractor. The Pool family has held toy drives for 20 years under unofficial names like “Dr. Pool’s Toy Drive.” But after Kaleigh’s death, a new tradition was born.
The Pools knew Kaleigh and loved her and her family. They were devasted by her loss. “Kaleigh collapsed in our office and through many attempts of resuscitation she was not able to be saved that day in December,” Julie Pool said.
Each year, hundreds of parents register and show up at a specific time to shop for their children. Families receive two to three gifts per child, as well as a gift card and a grocery card, Pool said. They also can select stocking stuffers for their children and go to the “wrap room” where volunteers help wrap the gifts.
“We are praying for God to also blessed the time with the families so that we can have Gospel conversations with all the participants,” Pool said. “By sharing the love of Christ with them, not only with material gifts, but we are praying that many of them will make professions of faith in Christ.”
NorthPointe Church has become an invaluable partner in the event, Pool said.
“We have gone door to door, we have partnered with school districts, we have done the giveaway at the high school parking lot, and now we are blessed to have NorthPointe coming alongside us and allow us to use their building, their team, and their resources to help support our endeavor,” she said.
This year’s Kaleigh’s Sleigh Toy Drive will be held this Saturday, Dec. 14, at NorthPointe. Find more information here.
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