For Brittney Weech, the holidays are a time of love, resilience and determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a single mom, so I\u2019m working 24\/7,\u201d she said. \u201cIt gets hard at times, but you\u2019ve got to put on that cape every morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally from the Bahamas, Weech moved to Orange County three years ago to build a new life for herself and her daughters. Like many working families, she faces the daily challenge of balancing responsibilities while making ends meet.<\/p>\n
Across Florida, more than 4 million households struggle to afford basic needs. Many of those families are employed but still face financial instability, especially during the holiday season.<\/p>\n
Through programs like Head Start<\/a> and local Neighborhood Centers for Families<\/a>, Weech became connected to Orange County services designed to support families during difficult times. That connection ultimately led her to the Orange County Mayor\u2019s Toy Drive<\/a>.<\/p>\n The annual initiative, now in its 16th year, mobilizes County employees, community partners and residents to donate toys for families in need, ensuring children across Orange County can experience the joy of the holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cThese are families working every day but are just making enough to survive,\u201d said Danna Jackson-Carroll, senior program manager for the Citizens\u2019 Commission for Children<\/a>. \u201cPrograms like the Toy Drive offer a bridge from families facing challenges to families finding stability.\u201d<\/p>\n When Weech arrived at the Toy Drive, she was not quite sure what to expect.<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t really hit me until the day of the event,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I walked in, I was in shock. I wanted to take it all in.\u201d<\/p>\n The experience quickly became something she and her daughters would never forget.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing my oldest daughter did was hug me and say, \u2018Thank you for always giving me a Christmas,\u2019\u201d she added. \u201cWhen they saw everything, they didn\u2019t even know where to go first.\u201d<\/p>\n Moments like these highlight the deeper impact of the program \u2014 one that goes far beyond the toys themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important for people to understand the difference they\u2019re making,\u201d asserted Jackson-Carroll. \u201cSomething as simple as a toy can bring joy, hope and a sense of normalcy to a family.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the past 15 years, the Mayor\u2019s Toy Drive has collected more than 100,000 toys and supported more than 20,000 families across Orange County.<\/p>\n For Weech, the experience has come full circle.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, any chance I get, I donate,\u201d she said. \u201cI know the smile it put on my kids\u2019 faces, and I want to do that for someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n Through the continued generosity of the community, Orange County\u2019s Mayor\u2019s Toy Drive remains a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.<\/p>\n \u00a0You can support the Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive<\/a> by dropping off new, unwrapped toys at one of our 40 locations<\/a> or by purchasing and donating a toy online through our virtual toy store<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n