On Friday, KPRC 2′s Chancellor Johnson reported on C.J. Stroud’s foundation, as the star quarterback’s organization teamed up with Lily’s Toy Box to hand out gifts to Houston-area kids.
Stroud’s charitable efforts obviously made headlines, but Lily’s Toy Box has been a noble provider in the Houston community for years now, and the organization’s beginnings go back to one of the lowest points in the city’s history.
The organization was founded by Lily DuBose in 2017, when she was just nine years old. During Hurricane Harvey, she and her mother were in a closet as thunder and lightning crashed down in Houston. After hearing on the news that hundreds of children would lose their toys due to flooding and evacuations, Lily decided to give her own toys away.
Lily’s mother posted on Facebook, seeking toy donations from others, and suddenly, Lily’s living room was filled with toys donated for Houston’s kids.
Her efforts gained traction online, and after appearing on local news, she was able to collect 5,000 toys to give away to 200 kids. But she didn’t stop there.
Lily’s Toy Box has helped provide toys for Houston’s kids ever since, coming up big during catastrophic events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization has also teamed up with other athletes in the area, like Texans’ safety Jalen Pitre and Rockets’ forward Jae’Sean Tate.
You can support Lily’s cause by donating on her website here!