OUR LEGACY:

In 1993, Bill & Sheri Brown went to a yard sale at then, Cookson Hills Christian Ministries Children’s Home, now C. H. Family Ministries of Florida, Inc. They met the director who took them on a tour of the home, during which he described the set up and something of the financial structure. Although monitored by HRS, they don’t receive government funding and didn’t have to solicit for money, until recently. Family Ministries has been in Seffner for some twenty years. The home is for troubled children in Florida.

The Toy Run’s 1st goal is to bring attention to C. H. Family Ministries of Florida, Inc. Those who have participated in this toy run these several years have witnessed the lives Family Ministries have affected so positively. Family Ministries has a very different approach to succeeding in their endeavor to re-unite children and parents into families. Ask them for a tour of the property. Bill & Sheri found a “need” in the community and felt there was something to be done to help. Their friends agreed. With friend’s help a toy run came to be. Veteran’s Memorial Park on Hwy 301 S. in Tampa permits the use of the park as the staging point, the first Sunday of every December. While waiting for everyone to arrive, an auction is held and raffle tickets are sold. Auction and raffle items are donated by local businesses or purchased. ALL Monies collected go to Family Ministries Children’s Home. At 1:00 PM, a 20-mile “country” ride takes place heading North on Hwy 301, out Harney Rd. and around the Lake Thonotosassa area on some terrific country roads.

The 2nd goal is to provide the "Forgotten" children in Brandon, Riverview, Seffner, Mango, Thonotosassa, Dover and Valrico communities are also invited to participate in receiving gifts and having special memories of the holiday season. These children come from single parent homes, live with grandparents on fixed incomes, are "challenged" (any age) or the provider has been disabled. Income is limited and there just isn't anything left after necessities. 

Bill & Sheri along with sponsors help pay expenses for the toy run along with several who volunteer helping to keep everything organized, this event is a “happening”. Over 10,000 flyers are distributed throughout the area. When the flyers come out, people start talking of the toy run’s that have come before. People get involved. The Down Home, Make You Feel Good All Over Cookson Hills Toy Run truly belongs to everyone. You make it happen. Every dime that comes in the day of the toy run is counted and given to Family Ministries that afternoon. No guessing where everything went, you see it happen.

Arriving at the children's home in Seffner is where the fun really begins. Presents are passed out and at 2:30 PM, you become a part of their joy. Smiles! Laughter! Joy! Tears of Happiness! Priceless….Dec. 1993, 18 kids received several gifts each. A great Christmas! The toy run consisted of 17 motorcycles, a few cars and about 45 people. It was freezing cold; no one cared once the kids started unwrapping presents. It gets real emotional…

In the 14 years the toy run has existed you, who are the people who make it happen, have provided over 2,000 children with Christmas presents making their holiday season memorable and helped Family Ministries continue their incredible success by giving over $45,000.
Cookson Hills Toy Run isn’t set up to promote or profit any business or organization. It’s for the Kids. We haven’t the ability to name each deserving individual or business. If you have a business, you may not get “Recognition”. Just know that everything little thing done is so greatly appreciated. Your heart will be full! THANK YOU. 

For information regarding the toy run, please contact Bill or Sheri Brown at 813-643-5758: E-mail: Cooksontoyrun@aol.com.

If you have questions regarding Family Ministries of Florida, Inc., or would like to verify our commitment to the children’s home, please call Bob Sharp, the Director, at 813-685-1942.

We look forward to you, your family and friends joining our quest to bring joy to children in this Holiday Season.
If you’ve never been to a toy run, or even if you have, you don’t want to miss “The Down Home, Make You Feel Good All Over Cookson Hills Toy Run”.

God Bless – Bill & Sheri Brown