Christ Church collects toys for Our Daily Bread

Christ Church collected donations for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton during a drive-thru toy and food drive.

By Lesley Dwyer
| 3:58 p.m. November 30, 2022

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Christmas is fast approaching, and Christ Church is collecting toys. Parishioners ran a drive-thru toy and food drive for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton on Wednesday morning.

Donations piled up prior to the event. Members delivered two carloads of food and toys including four bicycles on Saturday. The final push brought in six more bikes and two more carloads.

“On Dec. 22, they hand out the toys to the children,” Sue Wertman said. “Last year, they had about 100 kids. We just enjoy giving back to the community.”

Our Daily Bread has served over 2 million meals since opening in 1984. The majority of those served are not homeless but struggling, many of which have children.

Charlotta Langley strolled up with a Publix bag, pushing a pink and blue bike with silver streamers. The handlebars read “Seastar.”

Annie Pelgen was in town from Kentucky, visiting her twin sister Bonnie Schneider for Thanksgiving. The sisters dropped off two bags of food and three bags of toys.

In total, 40 donors contributed.

Christ Church holds a drive-thru toy and food drive on Wednesday.

Twin sisters Bonnie Schneider and Annie Pelgen drop off two bags of food and three bags of toys.

Christ Church collects food, diapers and toys for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton.

Cindy Ritchell, Ann Quackenbush, Karen Fors, Steve Bergman, Marc Fors, Sue Wertman and Mike McCulough

Mike McCulough's truck getting filled during the toy and food drive on Wednesday.

Christ Church members collect two carloads of food and toys for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton.

Christ Church sets up a food and toy drive in their parking lot on Wednesday morning.

Christ Church members load up donations after a food and toy drive on Wednesday morning.

Packing up for another delivery for Our Daily Bread of Bradenton, two carloads were delivered on Saturday too.

author

Lesley Dwyer

Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.