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Bethlehem Temple Christmas Giveaway Is Next Week in North Wheeling

Photo by Joselyn King Rev. Darrell Cummings, right, and wife Latisha look through toys collected that will be distributed Saturday, Dec. 21 beginning at 10 a.m. at the North Wheeling Community Dream Center, 407 Main St., Wheeling.

WHEELING — Bethlehem Temple will host its 29th annual Christmas giveaway next week, and the church is still in need of donations — and maybe a health care partner.

The Christmas giveway is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the North Wheeling Community Dream Center at 407 Main St., Wheeling.

Families can come to get food for their Christmas dinner, and pick up any needed winter clothing or school supplies.

Then the children can enter a room filled with toys from which they can select their own Christmas presents.

Everything is free for participants, who do not have to show need.

Past years also have included medical screening provided by employees of a former partner in the Christmas giveaway, Ohio Valley Medical Center.

The facility closed this year, and another medical partner has not stepped forward, according to the Rev. Darrell Cummings.

“That is our challenge this year,” he said. “For the last four to five years, our partner was OVMC, and they were a great partner. They helped to collect toys, and they gave financially to sponsor our giveaway.

“They also stepped in as a medical partner. As of yet, we have not found a partner to do that.”

Cummings said the Fitzsimmons Foundation and the Fitzsimmons Law Firm of Wheeling came forward with financial donations to cover what OVMC has done in the past, and he expects local law enforcement who have always donated toys to the event to do more this year.

“We have reached out to several hospitals,” Cummings said. “When get the opportunity, they will meet with us — but it may be too late.

“It’s something we can pray for for next year.”

Bethlehem Temple gave away Thanksgiving food baskets in November to 790 people, according to Cummings. Typically, 400 to 600 people show up for the giveaways, and he expects the number for the Christmas giveaway to also be high.

Cummings said he is proud that children who come to the event can pick out what toys they want.

He remembers seeing one boy enter the toy room last year, and being mesmerized by the items he saw.

Cummings said he quietly asked him, “Which one can I get?” Cummings told him he could have his choice of any of them.

“Our hope is that when these children grow up, they will dream big and know they can get anything they want,” he said. “This community is able to help them achieve their highest dreams.

“Whatever the sacrifice it takes, we will make it happen,” he said.

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