North Texas church partners with family to bring toys, the gospel to area children

BURLESON—A Southern Baptists of Texas Convention church is using a holiday toy drive to share the love and message of Christ during the Christmas season.

Last year at NorthPointe Church in Burleson, more than 100 volunteers blessed over 750 children in the community with new toys, bicycles, and school supplies as part of Kaleigh’s Sleigh Toy Drive. The church is expecting to serve even more children this year.

The toy drive was organized by Jeff Pool, a chiropractor, his wife Julie, and their children. The Pools have been doing toy drives the past 20 years under other unofficial names, but in December 2020, after the death of Kaleigh Rhea Moss to a pulmonary embolism at age 22, they renamed the toy drive to honor her memory.

“Six months after Kaleigh’s death, God awoke my heart to the name ‘Kaleigh’s Sleigh’ for the toy drive, and with the blessing of Kaleigh’s wonderful parents, Kaleigh’s Sleigh took flight,” Julie Pool said. Because Kaleigh loved horses, the Pools made sure the logo for the sleigh includes a painted horse.

The Pools personally knew and loved Kaleigh and her family. Consequently, her loss devastated their family, as well.

“Kaleigh collapsed in our office, and [despite] many attempts of resuscitation, she was not able to be saved that day in December,” Julie recalls.

The Pools have served hundreds of kids every year. This year, the toy drive will take place as usual, with child care provided to make it easier on the parents to shop for their kids.

“The families had to pre-register to make the event fair to everyone,” Julie said. “Each one of the families will receive two to three toys per child, as well as a gift card and a grocery card if there is a situation identified with food deprivation. The families can also pick out stocking stuffers for their kids, and we have volunteers in our wrap room who help the families wrap their gifts so they are all set for Christmas.

“We are praying for God to also bless the time with the families so we can have gospel conversations with all the participants,” she continued. “By sharing the love of Christ with them … we are praying that many of them will make professions of faith.”

The Pools have used various methods to raise toys for the drive, including going door-to-door, partnering with school districts, offering free chiropractic office visits in exchange for toys, and working with churches such as NorthPointe, which allows the drive to use its building, members of its team, and resources to provide support. The drive also partners with 27 local businesses that accept toy drop-offs.

This year’s toy giveaway is scheduled for Dec. 14 for Johnson County residents.