Christmas Comes to Camden, New Jersey

Christmas comes to Camden, New Jersey

            It’s not the place most people would choose to spend Christmas Eve morning – in the second most dangerous city in the United States, in an empty lot bookended by vacant houses.  But that’s how legions of volunteers from all over South Jersey and Pennsylvania chose to spend it. They banded together just past the Northgate Apartments, not too far from Alfred Cordero Molina School, to bring Christmas to the children who live in North Camden. 

            The volunteers took direction from amiable and energetic, Tommy Williams, the ponytailed, sixty-something leader who greets everyone with a wide, warm smile and a firm handshake that instantly morphs into a hug.   Williams outlines the volunteers’ tasks simply – share the love of Jesus Christ with Camden’s children and their families by giving them a toy of their choice, a stuffed animal and a bike.  After they receive their gifts, they are ushered over to Santa where they receive a stocking filled with goodies.  Finally, they are treated to freshly grilled hotdogs and steamy hot chocolate.

            Mr. Williams is affiliated with New Covenant Ministries and his ministry of providing bikes to children on Christmas Eve extends over forty years and is no small feat.  Collecting the bikes, toys and stuffed animals is a yearlong process. Volunteers receive hundreds of donated bikes that need repairing, cleaning and adjusting before they are ready for distribution on Christmas Eve.  

            This year, it was estimated that over 750 bikes and ride-on toys were unloaded and distributed by a volunteer driven U-haul.  Aside from the bike U-haul, there were two other trailers, one loaded with toys and another filled with stuffed animals of all colors and sizes, stacked floor to ceiling waiting to be taken home with a child.

            Mr. Williams’ ministry isn’t limited strictly limited to Christmas time.  He has a burden on his heart for the people of Camden. He spends every Saturday at a different location throughout Camden City providing clothes, hugs and hope to whomever he and his volunteers come in contact with.