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Miracle Williams, 14, poses for a picture with the toys during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.
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14-year-old distributes free toys, winter clothes to help community

THE BLADE/KURT STEISS

14-year-old distributes free toys, winter clothes to help community

Fourteen-year-old Miracle Williams wants to give back to the community as much as she can.

She’s donated toys and gifts to premature babies at ProMedica Toledo Hospital, she has passed out breakfast to homeless people, and this week she invited members of the community to Greater St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church in Toledo, where she gave away toys, winter clothing, hand sanitizer, and face masks.

The event, held Tuesday, was a way to provide holiday gifts as well as coats, gloves, and hats to people in need, Miracle said, especially with so many families stretched thin by the pandemic.

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“Since COVID started, some parents lost their jobs,” she said.

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The Blade
Many homeless are children or families in crisis

Her cousin, Michelle McCaster, bought the toys from Toys “R” Us two years ago — right before the store went out of business — and they’ve been in storage at their home ever since.

Ms. McCaster, the teen’s guardian, said Miracle always wants to give donations or host charity events for people, so whenever she sees an opportunity to pick up items that could someday be given away — like bargain toys — she usually takes it.

“If you get, you always make sure you give,” Ms. McCaster said.

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A young entrepreneur, Miracle also has her own business called Miracle’s Magnifiscents selling homemade body butter. The youth is an eighth grader at Grove Patterson Academy.

Ms. McCaster runs a nonprofit called Groomed for Greatness, which is a mentorship program for girls between 4 and 18. They learn etiquette, finances, and are essentially groomed for adulthood, Ms. McCaster said.

Through that program, Miracle made a business plan for her body-butter business and ultimately decided to run with the idea. She’s always been the type of person to give back, Ms. McCaster said.

Once, Ms. McCaster recalled, she was driving and Miracle made her stop so she could ask some homeless people what they wanted for breakfast. Then they picked it up at McDonald’s for them.

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The Blade
UT Delta Sigma Theta alums conduct drive-by toy drive

“That’s just the kind of person she is,” Ms. McCaster said.

During the event Tuesday, Glory Perdue, a South Toledo resident, brought her family to pick up some coats and gifts.

“I have a lot of children who come in and out of my house,” Ms. Perdue said, but not all have adequate clothing for the winter, so she aims to keep items on hand for any who show up at her house and need something warm to wear.

Events like these fill gaps in the community, she said, because not every service organization can reach everybody who needs help. Especially this year people are just trying to keep their lives as normal as possible, and coat and toy drives assist in doing that, Ms. Perdue said.

“It helps people get through the next month and sometimes the next day,” she said.

First Published December 16, 2020, 3:18 p.m.

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Miracle Williams, 14, poses for a picture with the toys during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
Some of the toys seen during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
A Christmas decoration plays music during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
Some of the toys seen during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
Michelle McCaster, Miracle’s cousin, left, helps Toledo resident Elijah Perdue, 11, choose a toy during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
From left, Terrelle Knowles, 11, Maleah Fitzgerald, 7, Rajnae Knowles, 13, all of Toledo, make their selection during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
From left, Stacie Turner, Terrelle Knowles, 11, Rajnae Knowles, 13, and Maleah Fitzgerald, 7, all of Toledo, make their selection during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
Toledo resident Elijah Perdue, 11, looks around with his siblings during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
Miracle Williams, 14, left, and her cousin, Michelle McCaster, right, help Toledo residents Glory Perdue, second from left, and Ezra Perdue, 10, select a jacket during a giveaway event at St. Mary's Baptist Church in Toledo on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
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