A gift recipient from Christmas Past has been proving in recent years that what goes ’round does indeed come ’round.
For 23 years, the neighborhood on Hillcrest, DeLane, Diane and Darlene streets off West 18th Avenue has had an annual food and toy drive to provide items for distribution by the Salvation Army.
“We have one family — I don’t know their names — but every year they bring bicycles,” said neighborhood resident Marianna Gibbens.
The father of the family received gifts through the neighborhood toy drop when he was a youngster. Now a successful adult, he donates to the drive annually.
“So, what goes ’round comes ’round,” Gibbens said.
The annual toy drop and food drive, complete with Santa Claus, will be from 6 to 9 p.m., weather permitting, on Friday and Saturday.
New toys, books, non-perishable foods and money all can be collected from vehicles as they pass by the lighting display.
Almost all of the residents in the four-street neighborhood again have put up Christmas lights and displays.
“Some of these people just go bananas with decorating,” Gibbens remarked with a laugh.
On the two special days, each of the houses also will have luminaries set out to add to the festivities.
In addition to collecting for the Salvation Army, the neighborhood itself also adopts two or three families to sponsor from SOS, Gibbens said.