The Southwest Chicago community came together in a powerful display of unity and generosity on December 16th, 2023 asTGI Movement (TGI), GoodKids MadCity-Englewood (GKMC-E), and the Southwest Organizing Project's (SWOP) community violence intervention team, Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P), joined forces to organize a Holiday Toy Drive. This action brought joy and warmth to the families in the neighborhood. Recognizing the importance of solidarity, these community organizations pooled their resources, leveraging their unique strengths to create a meaningful impact.

As the collaborative effort unfolded, volunteers from each organization worked side by side to collect and distribute toys to children in need. TGI Movement and GKMC-E have been committed to hosting toy drives annually over the last few years, with this year, CP4P stepping up to assist. The Holiday Toy Drive not only provided children with gifts but also fostered a sense of hope and connection within the community. In the spirit of togetherness, these organizations demonstrated that when communities unite, they can create positive change that resonates far beyond the holiday season.

When asked for a comment regarding this event, Carlil Pittman, Executive Director of GoodKids MadCity-Englewood, shared this. “We wanted to put people’s minds at ease. There are times that even when parents work their hardest, they aren’t able to get their kids something for the holidays. As a father, I know how heavily that would weigh on my mind and I don’t want any parents or kids to have to go through that if we can help them.” Though the holidays will come and go, TGI, GKMC-Englewood and SWOP have many more events, initiatives, and campaigns on the horizon.