DONATION — Over 40 toys were presented to the Toys for Tots campaign in memory of D’Angelo Lewis Monday. Pictured, left to right, is Lisa Bockholt, Kleberg-Kenedy County Toys for Tots Coordinator; Chandra Lewis, D’Angelo’s mother; and Lorraine Greenwood, a family friend. (Photo by Erika Hernandez) A Kingsville mother who lost her only child in 2002 is giving back to the children of the community in his memory through Toys for Tots just in time for the distribution of thousands of donated toys to local children.

Chandra Lewis donated over 40 toys to Toys for Tots on Monday to benefit Kleberg and Kenedy counties children.

Lewis lost her son, D’Angelo, unexpectedly, at the age of 2 1/2 and felt that this was a positive way to honor him.

“I wanted to give back to the children and see their smile,” Lewis said. “This is a great way to keep his memory alive.”

Thousands of toys are stored in the Toys for Tots ‘Secret Santa Workshop’ where they are awaiting to be distributed to local children in the area. (Photo by Erika Hernandez) Lewis hosted a memory luncheon with family and friends, Dec. 11, at Pizza Parlor on what would have been D’Angelo’s tenth birthday.

“It was a gathering of everyone who loved D’Angelo, and instead of them bringing him a gift, I asked that they bring a gift that could be donated to Toys for Tots,” Lewis said.

This was the first year that Lewis has done this in D’Angelo’s memory.

“I used to participate in the Adopt-an-Angel program, but since it is no longer in town, I decided that Toys for Tots would be another great way to give back,” Lewis said.

“This is a way of touching someone’s child through my own, and for them to have even one gift on Christmas because of this, makes it totally worth it,” Lewis said.

Lisa Bockholt, the Kleberg-Kenedy Countuy Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots coordinator, delighted Lewis when she mentioned that this year a record number of gifts would be distributed to each child in the program.

“This year, because of donations from citizens like Chandra Lewis, we are going to be able to provide five gifts per child, which is a great accomplishment,” Bockholt said.

“I think what Ms. Lewis has done for us is incredibly special and heartfelt and we can’t thank her enough.”

Approximately 900 applications were received for toys and distribution of the thousands of toys began Monday and will continue to be distributed throughout Christmas week from the “Secret Santa Workshop” located in Kingsville, Bockholt said.

A generous shipment of toys arrived here from a Toys- R-Us store in California.

Bockholt said the support has been overwhelming.

“We would like to thank the citizens of Kingsville and surrounding areas for all their support in making this year’s campaign a great success,” Bockholt said.