Mothers Fighting For Justice Takes Care Of Their Own With Toy Drive

Miami FL

22 December, 2021

4:39 PM

Description

By Johania Charles, Miami Times Staff Writer, the Miami Times Dec 21, 2021 Shirley Stamps, a grandmother to six children and resident of Cutler Bay, says holidays can be tough for families like hers trying to keep the spirit amid economic challenges and community hardship. On Monday, a sense of relief and joy washed over her as she stood with toys for her grandchildren cradled under her arms and in her hands. She received the items at an annual holiday toy drive presented by Mothers Fighting for Justice, an organization on a mission to end gun violence, and support those impacted by it. "Some kids aren't fortunate to have things like this," said Stamps, motioning to the drive's two tables overflowing with toys. "And it's hard for parents like me who try our best to give them that. I felt really good about this event and I brought [my kids here] to enjoy it. They were very happy." With the country's inflation rate at its highest since 1982, toy prices have seen an up to a 10% increase this holiday season, making it harder for low-income families to afford to give their children something to look forward to. Additionally, toy companies projected shortages due to ongoing supply chain delays. The economic hurdles though, were no match for Romania Dukes, founder of Mothers Fighting for Justice, who was determined to throw South Dade children a grand holiday block party full of toys and games. Held on a blocked-off residential street near a senior community apartment complex in Cutler Bay, the festive event featured a bounce house, a mobile gaming truck, a barbecue, a slushie truck and a DJ. Dozens of people from the community came out with their children, nieces and nephews, cousins and anyone looking to have a good time. No sign-up or online registration was required to attend the event, an effort to eliminate barriers that would cause children to be turned away. A mother helps her daughter select an item from a table full of toys at the Mothers Fighting for Justice toy drive. (Johania Charles for The Miami Times) Dukes says the drive got its start six years ago, following the traumatizing death of her teenage son in her arms, which was reported by The Miami Times in detail in a Sept. 27, 2017, article. She started the organization, along with its events, to help Miamians in need and to promote joy and peace through gatherings where people can take a break from worrying about the threat of gun violence plaguing their community. "The gun violence in this community is like a category 4 hurricane. The crime rate is terrible," said Dukes. "Which is why I'm always trying to do something so these young boys won't take the wrong path. When gunshots go off, they run through this senior community and that affects [the] seniors, too. This is the very first time they're able to come out to enjoy the peace and fresh air." The Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) Crime Map database reported 401 crime incidents in the Cutler Bay area over the last 180 days. More than 10 of those incidents involved weapons and 13 were reported assaults. Two boys play Mario Kart in a mobile gaming truck parked at Mothers Fighting for Justice's toy drive on Monday. (Johania Charles for The Miami Times) "Being a part of organizing this event means a lot to me because I know that people may forget areas like Perrine, Goulds, Cutler Bay and the rest of South Miami," said Erick Moore, the organization's youth lead. "When I see the kids who come out here to get toys with big smiles on their faces, it always brings me joy, especially knowing that a lot of these kids are used to hearing gunshots and being surrounded by all this gun violence. It really brings me to tears to see them get a least one day where they can have fun in the community they live in." Chef Darius McLaughlin whips up sausages and burgers for Mothers Fighting for Justice's annual toy drive. (Johania Charles for The Miami Times) Moore, who lives in the neighborhood, says he hears gunshots almost every day. Haunted by the reality that anyone can become a victim, he joined Dukes' fight in trying to end gun violence once he learned about her son, seven years ago. "I want people to know that I'm healing but I'm not fully healed," said Dukes. "But I do this because it's really what has helped me cope through the holidays. All of this community service helps me keep my mind off the loss. And I know that [these children] won't have anything unless I'm doing it or their church is. A lot of the time, some people don't have transportation to go to other holiday giveaways outside of their community." Like Moore, Dukes echoed how North Dade typically sees more toy drives than the southern parts of the county. A crowd forms on Cutler Bay's Evergreen Street during a block party-style holiday toy drive. (Johania Charles for The Miami Times) "Sometimes our organization gets overlooked when it comes to donations because we're only local and a lot of people are already working to help with issues in Miami," she said. "There are bigger organizations, sports teams and entertainers helping people, but they seem to forget about the kids here in South Dade. I'm the organization that doesn't want to leave those kids behind so I do everything I can. I just wish I could do more. If I had more funding, I would." This year, Dukes said the organization collected more than 1,000 toys, 500 diapers and 100 scooters for the toy drive. Children hop around inside a bounce house at Monday's Cutler Bay toy drive. (Johania Charles for The Miami Times) Sponsors such as MDPD, Miami Fire Rescue, the Trayvon Martin Foundation, Sen. Annette Taddeo, District 8 County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, G Law Firm and Aj Jewelry made that happen. "Romania has always been a giver," said Trenda Little, a resident who attended the event with her nieces and nephews. "I found out about her a few years ago and admire what she does. I came out to the toy drive last year and even donate some things. This event means a lot to the families that don't have the [means] to buy gifts this year." 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.