Making Children Smile

HUD Richmond Field Office employees assist with toy drive.

Seeking to put smiles on the faces of homeless children and sparkles in their eyes this holiday season, AFGE Local 3380, in partnership with the HUD Richmond Field Office management, spearheaded a toy drive for the children served by homeless services provider, HomeAgain.

HomeAgain places families in temporary housing and helps stabilize them to eventually move into their own homes. They do this by focusing on the uniqueness of each family and developing a housing plan to meet their needs. Their first priority is to provide housing and they are flexible in supporting the work schedules of their clients to help them maintain housing.

For the sixth year, the owner of Professional Moving and Storage has opened his storage space and rallied the Richmond community to donate toys. This is the second year that HomeAgain was selected to benefit from these donations.

Homeless families don't know what to expect this time of year. For most, the holidays are another layer of stress. But when the children receive these toys, it gives them a chance to enjoy being children for a moment during this holiday.

HUD Richmond Field Office employees generously donated a large table full of toys including dolls, cars, Legos, footballs, musical instruments, puzzles and books.

There are visions of smiling children with sparkles in their eyes during this holiday season.

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