'We live for this': Topeka church gives free gifts for 8 years straight

TOPEKA (KSNT) - A handful of families in Topeka and the surrounding areas got their Christmas gifts early with the help of one local church.

Miracle Life Church, located at 735 SW Oakley St., gave free toys, food, clothes and gift cards to people in need Monday. Families were able to stop by the church anytime after 3:30 p.m. to grab what they needed.

"We love our community," Elouise Ware said, a co-pastor for the church. "We don't want one child to go without a doll or an ironing board."

The church has been holding this giveaway tradition for eight straight years. This year was its most successful year yet.

"We have over 1,000 toys or more. So, this year is our biggest one yet," assistant pastor Stephnie Ware said. "We live for this. Our children are the future, and we want to make this time memorable for children."

A tradition this big doesn't come easy.

"It takes weeks. It takes a lot of phone calls, lots of dedication, staying on our sponsors. It takes weeks, maybe a couple months," Stephnie said.

While the church gave out a record number of toys this year, it hopes to give out even more in the future.

"We want to be bigger and better every year," assistant pastor Timothy Ware said. "We want it to be bigger and better next year. We want to be able to feed 5,000 if we can. We want to give out 5,000 plus toys if we can."

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