Walbridge and Microsoft are teaming up with Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (MCDSS) for the annual Christmas programme of holiday toy drive. The programme is planning to deliver toys and clothing to children in need. The drive intends to provide gifts for more than 400 Mecklenburg County children.
The MCDSS Christmas Programme is 100 per cent funded from local businesses, organisations, churches and citizens in the Mecklenburg County area. Companies like ACI, Covenant Steel, Fessler & Bowman, IES, MC Dean, Silent Aire and tradespeople from the job also joined with the Walbridge/Microsoft effort.
In all the partner companies of the Microsoft Data Center build in Boydton, Virginia, the employees teamed up to deliver the packages and gifts to MCDSS. For each child, the team purchased a winter coat, two outfits, pajamas, boots or shoes, an educational toy and several age-appropriate toys. Toys include Legos, video games, Easy Bake Ovens, Barbie dolls, action figures and other books, board games, and art sets.
David Robson, a vice president at Walbridge and Community Engagement Officer for the Microsoft Data Center build in Boydton, was among many employees passing out toys and spreading cheer in a holiday effort by the global construction management firm along with its client, Microsoft.
“As a company, we strive to make an impact not only with our client, but with the entire community,” Robson said. “We’re thrilled Walbridge, Microsoft and these awesome subcontractors could come together to make Christmas morning a little more special for these children.”
“Microsoft is pleased to team with Walbridge, our construction partner and their vendors at the Microsoft Boydton Data Center, to support the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and their holiday toy drive,” said Nathan Hamm, IT Operations Manager for the Microsoft Boydton Data Center. “Participating in the toy drive is an important part of how we support and give back to the local community that has been so welcoming and supportive of Microsoft.”
Sandra Gregory, MCDSS Director said everyone in the county is “tickled to death” and the holidays will be extra special for the children.
“We have 800 children through this programme this year and the partnership prepared gifts for more than half of them,” Gregory said. “You have no idea what it means.”
“This is what the season is all about,” Robson said. “I’m excited to hear all the stories about local kids waking up to a special Christmas and honored we could play a role in that.”
