How the Bay Area Christian Church is Bringing Hope to 3,000+ Foster Kids

Matthew 5:16 NIV says, “…Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

At the Bay Area Christian Church, we are passionate about making God known and shining a bright light in the world around us as we follow Jesus’s example of doing good.

That’s why we started our annual Toy Drive in 2008.

What started as a simple way to serve children in foster care has grown into something far greater. Currently, there are about 3,000 children here in the Bay Area who have been removed from their homes. because they’ve experienced the worst that the world has to offer. Through the Toy Drive, we’ve been able to bring these children hope, joy, and a reminder that they are not forgotten.

That first year of the Toy Drive, the agencies we partnered with responded with overwhelming gratitude. This moved us to keep going—to expand our reach and meet even more needs across our communities. Each of our campuses began partnering with local agencies that serve the most vulnerable among us—the 3.5 million residents struggling to make ends meet and the 870,000 people forced to choose between buying food and paying rent.

We don’t believe any family should have to endure hardship alone. Our annual Toy Drive is one way we come alongside families in crisis, offering hope, dignity, and joy throughout the Bay Area.

This year, we were honored to partner with Sunnyvale Community Services, Parents
Helping Parents, The Bill Wilson Center, Rebekah Children’s Services, Horizons Unlimited, Real Options for City Kids, A Better Way, FESCO Family Shelter, the Oak Center Cultural Center, the Oakland Police Department, and the Office of Violence Prevention in Stockton.

At our Holiday Celebration Services on December 14, we gave 1,229 toys and $8000 in gift cards to 10 agencies that serve kids and families in the Bay Area, each gift representing a child, a family, and a moment when someone saw the love of God through us.

Directors and representatives from our partnering agencies visited our services this weekend, with many of them moved to tears in gratitude for the ongoing relationship with the BACC and the generosity of the members.

“​​Thanks to the generous donations from the Bay Area Christian Church, R.O.C.K gifted each student at El Dorado Elementary School with a brand new toy. Our students and families beamed with joy as they chose a toy to take home. Thank you for helping us bring a little extra magic to our community this holiday season.”

This quote is from one of the School Social Workers:

“Thank you all for the amazing donations over these past years…The toys bring so much joy and excitement to the students every year. We were able to give two students their first toy ever. The two students were in disbelief that they were able to keep the toy and take it home.”

We also launched something brand new at our Dublin campus this year—a Chromebook and computer drive in partnership with the Stockton Office of Violence Prevention. We donated 60 laptops, tablets, and Chromebooks to support young people stepping away from gang violence toward a brighter future.

God moves powerfully through individuals who are compelled to serve and believe their contribution makes a difference.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed this year—and to our community partners who serve faithfully day in and day out.

Together, let’s continue to do good, shine light, and bring hope this holiday season and beyond.