Nana Brings Holiday Cheer To Overtown

Miami FL

22 December, 2021

4:54 PM

Description

By Bianca Marcof and Samantha Morell, Miami Times Staff Writers, the Miami Times Dec 21, 2021 Giving back is on 59-year-old Anitrice McKinnis-Jackson's Christmas wish list every year. Her eighth annual "NANA'S Winter Wonderland in Overtown" toy drive at Williams Park marked a Saturday full of joy and surprises for children in the neighborhood. More than 200 children registered for the Dec. 18 toy drive. After a series of games and outdoor fun, they lined up to choose the toys they wanted to take home, and 28 of them even won their very-own bicycles in a raffle. Close 1 of 9 Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown The University of Miami donated t-shirts to distribute at the toy drive. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Kids got to enjoy a taste of "snow" in Miami at Nana's toy drive Dec. 18. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Kids ran around in "snow," played musical chairs and kickball, and had a dance competition at Nana's eighth annual toy drive Dec. 18. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown I really like this event because you get to get toys before Christmas," said Myiah Hearns, 9. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown The Grinch made an unexpected appearance, lurking through the crowd of kids at Nana's holiday toy drive. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Even though the Grinch was present, the kids didn't let him steal Christmas from Overtown. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Families lined up to get their picture taken with Santa Claus. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Nana's family helped each kid pick out what they wanted from a table full of presents. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana Anitrice McKinnis-Jackson, also known as "Nana" to her community, hosted her eighth annual "NANA's Winter Wonderland in Overtown" toy drive at William's Park. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Save Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown 1 of 9 Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown The University of Miami donated t-shirts to distribute at the toy drive. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Kids got to enjoy a taste of "snow" in Miami at Nana's toy drive Dec. 18. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Kids ran around in "snow," played musical chairs and kickball, and had a dance competition at Nana's eighth annual toy drive Dec. 18. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown I really like this event because you get to get toys before Christmas," said Myiah Hearns, 9. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown The Grinch made an unexpected appearance, lurking through the crowd of kids at Nana's holiday toy drive. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Even though the Grinch was present, the kids didn't let him steal Christmas from Overtown. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Families lined up to get their picture taken with Santa Claus. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana brings holiday cheer to Overtown Nana's family helped each kid pick out what they wanted from a table full of presents. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) Nana Anitrice McKinnis-Jackson, also known as "Nana" to her community, hosted her eighth annual "NANA's Winter Wonderland in Overtown" toy drive at William's Park. (Samantha Morell for The Miami Times) The children, some of whom were as young as 8-months-old, went home with dolls, books, journals, scooters, toy cars and more. Myiah Hearns, age 9, was among the group of little girls who opted out of receiving a toy in exchange for a free day at Lollipops & Gumdrops Children's Spa, which was founded by McKinnis-Jackson's eldest daughter, Lakeycia Cooper-Garcia. "I was just expecting to get a toy," Myiah said. "But then the lady asked me if I wanted to get a whole spa treatment, and I said yes." Once all the children who had registered had a gift in their hands, McKinnis-Jackson and her family allowed a couple of the kids, who just happened to be playing at the park, come in and take their pick as well. "No one gets turned down," said McKinnis-Jackson, also known as "Nana" to the community. But the effort isn't a one-woman show. The whole family plays a part in bringing smiles to the faces of the kids in Overtown. Another one of McKinnis-Jackson's daughters, Jamie Wooden-Whisby, who owns Soul Delight Catering, cooked warm meals for the families to enjoy at the end of the event. McKinnis-Jackson's godson, Damon Palmer, was DJ for the day, blasting Christmas classics and hosting a variety of games for the kids to play, including kickball, musical chairs and even a dance-off. The rest of her family, daughter Jane Wooden, son Gecolbe McKinnis Jr. and husband Herman Jackson, as well as McKinnis-Jackson's grandchildren, did their part by managing the line of kids eager to get their toys and helping each of them choose which gift they wanted to take home. Santa Claus also made a special appearance at the park, but he did not bring his reindeer. Instead, he was joined by an unexpected companion: the Grinch – played by McKinnis-Jackson's son-in-law, Melvin Garcia Jr. – except this time, the kids didn't let him steal Christmas from Overtown. To top it all off, a snow-generating machine donated by one of the families turned Overtown into an actual winter wonderland. "It's very generous what she does for her community," said Brenda Johnson, who comes every year. "The kids love her for this. God bless Nana." McKinnis-Jackson said part of her mission is to promote literacy among youth. Also in attendance were members of Miami Connected, who offered free 2-year internet access to the families present. The 22-year Jackson Memorial Hospital health specialist runs her local nonprofit, NANA'S Restart, out of the goodness of her heart, making it her mission to give back the same way she was supported as a single mother by the Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, which gives clothing and toys to families in need. "This is my passion," she said. "This is like a baby for me and my family. We take pride in what we do." Yearly, she and her family not only host this Christmas event but feed the community during Thanksgiving by providing meals in their neighborhood and giving away school supplies and uniforms. "I just want to show people that we love them. I know there's a lot of organizations out there, but for NANA'S Restart, we want to be different. We want them to feel the love and let them know that we do care," McKinnis-Jackson said. The Miami Times is the largest Black-owned newspaper in the south serving Miami's Black community since 1923. The award-winning weekly is frequently recognized as the best Black newspaper in the country by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.