Little Bethel Baptist Church brightened lives Saturday when it invited families to its Everets Road location to receive toys to go under the Christmas tree.

Toys were donated by church members, said Delores Edwards, president of Little Bethel’s New Beginning Missionaries, which sponsored the annual charity drive.

“We pick families that have a need, that the children are not quite so fortunate, or they are not able to buy toys for them for Christmas,” she said.

“Some of the names come from social services; some are just folks that our families nominate. We have been doing this now for the past five years.”

Saturday’s event saw a steady stream of recipient families into a meeting hall in the rear of the church, decorated merrily with lots of tinsel and a Christmas tree festooned with toys beneath.

Folks were fed with hotdogs, cookies and candy. Earl Edwards played a very jolly Santa, ensuring wide smiles as toys were distributed.

“We play games,” Delores Edwards said. “We had a special presentation from the junior missionaries from our church (called) ‘The Five Crowns in Heaven.’”

Recipient children come from some families in very difficult circumstances, she said.

“They don’t come from the best of homes. They just don’t have some the privileges that other young kids have; they are just so happy to be the recipients of something.

“Their faces are lit up, and they enjoy the fellowship and the games. They interact with other kids of their same age.”

The ministry also serves an important purpose, Edwards said, in teaching Little Bethel congregants — especially the younger ones — that their faith calls on them to give to others who are less fortunate.

“Nobody goes out without something,” she said. “That’s important — to share with those who are less fortunate, and realize that God wants us to be servants.

“Our pastor preaches that all the time: serving, and helping others.”