Video: Amory Store Aims To Make Christmas Bright For Needy Children

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AMORY, MISS. (WCBI) – Whenever she can, Laura McDaniel stops in at “Finder’s Keeper’s ” in downtown Amory.

McDaniel became friends with store owners Bryant and Brandi Hargroue about this time last year. The single mom had just moved to town to care for her sick father. She was out of work, with no way to get Christmas gifts for her kids.

“I’ve got five children myself and I think no child should not have a Christmas,” Brandi Hargroue said.

When Brandi Hargroue heard McDaniel’s story, she decided to do something. What began as an outreach to help one family, turned into a community wide toy drive. More than 230 kids were served. This year, there are 358 children who need presents and at least 85 still need sponsors, or “Angels” to help out.

Also, half of all sales at Finders Keepers in November and December go to help fund the toy drive.

Hargroue has taken the toy drive appeal to social media and has found there are many needs this Christmas season.

“I’ve got one lady, she has taken five children in because a family member was taken to jail, she now has the burden of raising these five young children on her own,” Hargroue said.
Now, one year after coming into Finders Keepers, Laura McDaniel has a job, she is about to buy a house and credits her turn around to a couple with hearts for those hurting.

“If it hadn’t of been for them and other people like them, there’s no way a single mom of three kids, working on waitress pay could have made it, but I did and it was God’s blessing that led me here,” McDaniel said.

That toy giveaway takes place Saturday at 9 at Finders Keepers in downtown Amory. For more information, call 662 640 8255.