Shacura Pray high-fives her daughter Symphoni Pollard, while her son, Shamar Pollard, rides his first bicycle. Shamar received the bike as part of a holiday toy drive Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024, sponsored by Bethsaida Temple Ministries in the heart of Jacksonville's Moncrief community. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
Published on December 27, 2024 at 11:38 am
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Shacura Pray’s children received their first bicycles for Christmas.
The Moncrief resident smiled as she helped her 3-year-old son pedal his bicycle along 22nd Street earlier this week.
Pray was among dozens of people who watched as children in the neighborhood received bicycles, toys and other gifts during a holiday toy drive at Bethsaida Temple Ministries on 22nd Street.
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“It was great because they don’t do (toy drives) much in this neighborhood. We are super happy,” Pray said. “She got her bike and he got his first bike. It’s a great experience. It’s pretty uplifting.”
The Christmas Eve toy drive was one of many events Wayne Wilson Sr. has held this year for residents in Northwest Jacksonville. He has pastored Bethsaida Temple Ministries for 27 years and made it his mission to feed, clothe and restore souls.
Most Wednesdays, Wilson is in front of the cozy church with blue paint giving away food in one of Jacksonville’s most under-resourced ZIP codes. Some weeks a handful of people show up; others it’s dozens.
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During the Christmas Eve gift giveaway, the Bethsaida community donated 30 bicycles as well as toys and coats for children.
Life in Moncrief
Pray says Northwest Jacksonville is not as bad, or crime-ridden, as people portray in mainstream media. She says there are people who live there, walk the sidewalks and show love to their neighbors.
“It makes me happy because someone is still thinking about the Northside,” Pray said. “The kids need love here. There are a lot of struggling people here.”
There is heavy poverty within the Census Tract where Bethsaida is situated. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 42.7% poverty rate in the community around Bethsaida is more than triple the Duval County average.
The bureau also states that 90% of the 3,700 people who live in the census tract where the church is located are Black, and the 7.6 % of multigenerational households is far higher than the 4.7% statewide average.
Wilson has often said that people are more than their circumstances. He says this week’s toy drive was a chance to remind the Moncrief community of that while bringing joy to children.
Families gathered as early as 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve for a giveaway that started two hours later. Shortly after 11 the gleeful sound of children receiving bicycles and other gifts could be heard from blocks away.
“We just want to make sure that those children who are less fortunate will have a Merry Christmas as well,” said Beverly Wilson, who serves as a co-minister with Wayne Wilson. “We rallied together as a body in Christ … to make sure that we bless a child that’s unfortunate this holiday season.”
This year’s toy giveaway was the largest to date. Neither the Wilsons nor the Bethsaida family did it on their own. Local beauticians, a Kingsland, Georgia, auto repair company and individuals were among the many who shared their talents and treasure with the Moncrief-based church.
Pray was overwhelmed with joy at the sight of her 5 -year-old daughter and 3-year-old son wheeling away from Bethsaida on their first bicycles.
“It’s something that you really can’t describe that you’re being a blessing to someone that may not get anything,” Beverly Wilson said. “It’s not only about the toy. It’s about showing love. Teaching the children that we have to give back.
“When you are blessed, and God blesses you, it’s not all for you. It’s for you to bless and give back to someone else.”
