Kaleigh’ s Sleigh provides for all
Nothing says“ I love you” to a child during Christmas like a toy, and in Johnson County, one ministry hopes to say“ I love you” to hundreds of children.
Kaleigh’ s Sleigh, a ministry helping families provide toys for their children, is named for Kaleigh Rhea Moss, who died in 2020 at age 22 from a pulmonary embolism.
“ Six months after Kaleigh’ s death, God awoke my heart to the name‘ Kaleigh’ s Sleigh’ for the toy drive,” organizer Julie Pool said.“ And with the blessing of Kaleigh’ s wonderful parents, Kaleigh’ s Sleigh took flight.”
Because Kaleigh loved horses, Pool made sure that the logo for the sleigh has a painted horse.
“ Our hearts’ desire has always been to serve in our own backyard and to help our direct neighbors, and that is why we only serve families who live in the Johnson County boundary,” Pool said.
The toy drive was first organized by Julie Pool’ s husband Dr. Jeff Pool, a local chiropractor. The Pool family has held toy drives for 20 years under unofficial names like“ Dr. Pool’ s Toy
Drive.” But after Kaleigh’ s death, a new tradition was born.
The Pools knew Kaleigh and loved her and her family. They were devastated by her loss.
“ Kaleigh collapsed in our office and through many attempts of resuscitation she was not able to be saved that day in December,” Julie Pool said.
The Pool family continues the toy drive they have run for years— now in Kaleigh’ s memory.
For the last few years Kaleigh’ s Sleigh has been able to provide toys for over 800 kids per year, and has served over 300 families in need year after year. One of the biggest blessings is to see the amount of volunteers that have shown up to support Kaleigh’ s Sleigh.
Last year over 200 volunteers— families, organizations, businesses and so many youth age kids— showed up to serve.
“ It’ s not Christmas until we work at Kaleigh’ s Sleigh,” said Keeton Lee, A Joshua student and longtime volunteer and supporter of Kaleigh’ s Sleigh.
In a world where people are so very busy, and especially around the holiday season it is amazing to have over 200
volunteers sign up each year to be a part of a special day in helping their fellow neighbor.
“ We are praying for God to also blessed the time with the families so that we can have Gospel conversations with all the participants,” Pool said.“ By sharing the love of Christ with them, not only with material gifts, but we are praying that many of them will make professions of faith in Christ.”
NorthPointe Church has become an invaluable partner in the event, Pool said. The partnership with Northpointe has been pivotal in allowing them to reach more people in the community.
“ Northpointe provides us with additional structure in resources that help us to reach more families,” Pool said.“ Them allowing us to use their building, their incredible team and their church family has extended our reach to so many more children at Christmas. We hope and pray to be able to continue to grow and reach more and more every year and to continue to make Christmas bright for Johnson County children.”
For more information, visit Kaleigh’ s Sleigh on Facebook.
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