Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
Christian Men in Action-Clermont hosted their 15th Annual Christmas Eve Party to give toys and meals to less fortunate families at McKinney Park in Clermont.
Several hundred children and parents came through an organized line to select their free toys and treats while also receiving free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, chocolates and many extras.
The organization gave out several dozen new bicycles, skateboards and bigger gifts using a raffle ticket program. The Deep South Music DJ played festive Christmas music.
Cayden, the first boy to win a bicycle with his raffle ticket, was told he could pick any bike he wanted. He looked at the big motorcycles just behind the line of children’s bikes, pointed at it, and said, “I want one of the motorcycles!” After everyone laughed, he picked out a new bicycle. Some of the parents and kids took home huge bags full of extra toys!
Clermont Mayor and President of Christian Men in Action Tim Murry and his wife Kassier organized the event with a large team of sponsors, donors and volunteers. They worked for the past year to be able to have hundreds of new toys, bicycles and hot meals for everyone who gathered.
Otis and Sandra Taylor arrived with a large team of volunteers from Give a Day Foundation to help distribute the gifts. Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway and officers of CPD provided safety control.
Over the years, toys have been donated for the holiday party from the annual Battle of the Badges (CPD vs. LCSO) charity basketball game. Admission to the game is an unwrapped toy. All the toys are donated to the Christian Men in Action for distribution at the annual Christmas Eve Party for the children of the South Lake area.
This year’s collection was sponsored by Christian Men in Action, the Lincoln Park Rams Motorcycle Club, Hyundai of Central Florida, the Clermont Police Department, Lake County Sheriffs Office, Charities Across South Lake, Charlene Forte and the City of Clermont.
New Jacob’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, St. Marks AME Church, Greater Macedonia Church OGBF, Wootson Temple Church OGIC, NJC Senior Saints and other local churches and individuals throughout the community collected extra food, toys, and donations for this event.
Tim Murry notes, “We always love helping our needy area families and children to celebrate Christmas spirit with free Christmas toys and a Christmas Eve meal! We are very thankful for all of our many sponsors, donors and volunteers. I am really very pleased that we helped a lot of children to have a good Christmas. We really were very blessed this year to have so many toys donated for children, teens and adults. We want to continue to do more to make this event better every year. We will always need sponsors, new members and volunteers!” Steve Smith of the Lincoln Park Rams noted, “We are here to share toys and bike with the children and to ensure we all make an impact by setting a good example for our youth.”
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Christian Men in Action: In 2005 Roderick Chapman, Jerome Godwin and Wilbert Montgomery came together to create a new community organization dedicated to improving life within our South Lake community. They decided upon the name Christian Men in Action. Supported by a great team with Wilbert ‘Willie’ Montgomery, Pete ‘Devon’ Cole, Tim Murry, John Gibson, Joe Mitchell, Paul Mitchell, Charles Wright, Michael Floyd, Walter ‘Champ’ McGriff and Cornelius Faulk, the group is small, yet powerful. The state of Florida has officially recognized this organization. In 2008, Christian Men in Action received an official 501-C3 not-for-profit status.
Christian Men in Action membership consists of Christian men from various churches throughout the local community. They meet the second Wednesday each month at 7 PM at New Jacob Chapel Missionary Baptist Church located at 410 West Highway 50 in Clermont FL 34711. Christian Men in Action is not a representative of any one particular church. As a not-for-profit organization, Christian Men in Action depends upon support from a variety of local churches, businesses, organizations and individuals throughout our community. While membership of Christian Men in Action is open to men only, volunteers can be men, women, and youths who are at least 16 years of age.
For additional information, contact Christian Men in Action at 352-217-1140 or mail to: PO Box 331, Minneola, FL 34755-0331. To learn more, visit their website: http://www.christianmeninaction.com/
