Christmas toy giveaway offers healing and holiday cheer for crime victims’ families

As the season of giving unfolds, an initiative by a local organization helped aid the lives of families impacted by crime. Mothers Against Violence Healing Ministry orchestrated their annual Christmas toy giveaway Dec. 12, offering comfort to those grappling with the repercussions of violence. “We have mothers and fathers and siblings who have lose their child and sibling to gun violence. So, we’re just here to uplift and give the toys out and have a good time,” said founder Donita Royal. RELATED: Indianapolis kids take a pledge against gun violence   “We collected about 300 toys, and we have about 80 families we are servicing for the holidays. This is our ninth-year anniversary, and this is the first time we are back in person since the pandemic.” Royal dressed up festively as Santa while her daughter, Arnitra Torrence, was her elf assistant. The organizations serviced children and teens ages 3-17 with toys for each age group. (Photo/Jade Jackson) Royal said the recent uptick in youth gun violence has been hard this year. Torrence said a lot of the families that were in attendance were still grieving from gun violence that has happened in and around the city. “It’s every day. We...