ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Salvation Army gymnasium was all about hands.
It was about folks on hand who were dealt a bad hand either by being displaced by fire or tripped up by an assortment of life's challenges dumped upon them.
But the gathering on Monday, just a few days before Christmas, was also about helping hands. So many hands extending some of life’s necessities as well as toys for the kids.
Give these folks a hand, the ones from The Michael Ann & Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation & Ashley Furniture. They joined with The Salvation Army to deliver what they call “Hope to Dream” to local families whose residences were destroyed in recent fires in the city as well as other underserved families.
Each of the families received a new bed, mattress, bedding essentials and children’s toys as part of the initiative.
“Every child needs a bed, needs to sleep comfortably and to wake up and have a productive day the next day,” said Tonya Johnson, mother of Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley and vice president of the Barkley Hope Foundation.
“By working with Ashley Furniture and Serta mattresses, we’re able to give these families a good night’s sleep. It’s really gratifying not only to help them, but to help them just a few days before Christmas.”
Added Alibay Barkley, Saquon’s father: “We do what we can to help. We know that so many families do their best to make it even when they don’t have much.”
A DJ entertained folks on hand, who enjoyed pizza, drinks and desserts.
At one end of the gymnasium, children played basketball. At the other end, twin mattresses were piled high beside the other basketball hoop, and a wall of boys and girls toys was stacked beneath it, as well as in two large bins.
"It’s really gratifying not only to help them, but to help them just a few days before Christmas.”Tonya Johnson, mother of Saquon Barkley and vice president of the Barkley Hope Foundation
One by one, children lined up to pick out their favorite toy. Three-year-old Archie Merced of Allentown, dressed in a Grinch-themed hooded sweatshirt and pants, smiled as he chose a Peppa Pig game.
Brothers Kendall and Cameron Singleton selected a soccer ball and basketball, respectfully.
Jamil Thomas arrived late, but felt the comfort of caring hands.
On Dec. 6, he, his wife, Alexis, and their daughter, Amaya, 8, were displaced by a three-alarm fire in their rowhome apartment on Allen Street.
Everything was lost. They’ve been living in a charity-funded hotel since, but their time there is drawing to a close.
“We’re looking for a place now,” said Thomas, who picked out a Stitch stuffed animal and another small toy for his daughter.
“It’s good to know we’re getting a mattress for her. It’s nice to know there are people who are here to help when you really need help.”
Salvation Army Maj Ismael Correa described the mattress donation as a foundation for a child’s future.
“Every mattress provided is more than a gift,” he said. “We are deeply grateful to Ashley, Ms. Johnson and the Barkley Hope Foundation for their generous support of families facing challenges this holiday season.”
The Hope to Dream initiative aligns with the Barkley Hope Foundation's mission to empower youth and families through programs that promote academic achievement and life success, while reinforcing Ashley’s commitment to strengthening communities by providing the gift of quality sleep.
The event marked the third collaboration between the Barkley Hope Foundation and Ashley. In November, they partnered to donate 50 beds to children through The Salvation Army in Philadelphia. Earlier this month, an additional 25 beds were distributed to families through the office of Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson.
As Tonya Johnson prepared for the start of Monday’s event, grinning at the prospect of helping those in need in some small way to move forward, she took a moment to look back.
“We’ve had times in our family back then when our kids didn’t have Christmas,” she said. “We always made sure they had a decent meal and little stocking stuffers. But when we couldn’t provide, they understood.
“The Barkleys didn’t always have; that’s part of Saquon’s humble beginnings. The values we instilled in him, that just because you didn’t have didn’t make you less of a person. It didn’t make you less of a human being. You still thrive, you still go on.
"[Saquon] never forgot that. That’s why it's so important for him to help.”
