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COVID-19 again forces change for Christmas toy giveaways

Santa waves to families from a firetruck during the 39th annual J.P. Hall Christmas Party last year.
Dede Smith
/
For the Florida Times-Union
Santa waves to families from a firetruck during the 39th annual J.P. Hall Christmas Party last year.

For the second year in a row, two longtime Jacksonville-area Christmas toy giveaways for children will help Santa Claus in different formats because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The 23rd annual Children's Christmas Party of Jacksonville will not be in person at its typical Prime Osborn Convention Center home, instead distributing toys to needy families through two child-serving nonprofits. And the 40th annual J.P. Hall Jr. Children's Charities Christmas Party in Green Cove Springs will return to the Clay County Fairgrounds on Dec. 18 but as a drive-thru toy distribution.

The decision to forgo the in-person event for the second year in a row was painful but necessary, Diane Halverson, executive director of the Jacksonville event, said.

Read the rest of this story at WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union.