Bishop Gerard Mirbel and wife Lady Bishop Jacqueline Mirbel started off the holiday season unsure if they would be able to hold their annual toy distribution amid the coronavirus pandemic -- but encouragement to continue from Minister Omar Parker and a surge in donations from the community made it possible.Â
The Mirbels lead The Association to Help the Lord's Work in Painesville, which held the toy giveaway at the LaMalfa event center in Mentor on Dec. 22. The ministry has held an annual Christmas toy giveaway since 2002.
Parker, of Christian Fellowship Enrichment Organization, said he knew it was important to keep up the tradition this year and partnered with the Mirbels to organize the event.