Inside Our 2025 Deck the Halls with Bingo Balls Adventure: From Walmart Takeover to Akron Children’s Delivery
- Victoria Muhlbach
- Dec 12, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 13, 2025
Every December, a tale of holiday joy unfolds inside our community—and this year, it grew bigger than ever. What started as a simple idea to bring our team together to brighten the holidays for children in medical care has turned into a three-part Christmas mission filled with generosity, teamwork, and a whole lot of holiday cheer. From filling carts during our Walmart toy takeover, to constructing a giant toy castle made of nearly 1,000 toys, to delivering them directly to Akron Children’s Hospital, this project became a powerful reminder of what happens when people come together for good. If you’ve ever wondered what some of our holiday impact looks like behind the scenes—this is it.
Walmart Takeover: How We Shopped 985 Toys in One Night
Our annual Deck the Halls with Bingo Balls Walmart Takeover kicked off the holiday mission with incredible community energy. This year, our staff, volunteers, board of directors, and community friends from Akron Children’s Volunteer Office, The One Center for Leadership, and Hall of Fame Village all came together to make a massive impact.
With carts rolling in every direction, the team worked side-by-side to select 985 toys—from plushies and STEM kits to art sets and sensory-friendly favorites—all chosen with care for children receiving treatment at Akron Children’s Hospital.
This shopping spree is where the magic begins each year, and thanks to the support of Walmart on Tusc in Canton, it ran smoother and jollier than ever. Enjoy the first part of the journey below!
Building a Giant Toy Castle: Sorting, Counting, and Preparing Gifts
After a successful shopping spree, the next step of our Deck the Halls with Bingo Balls Adventure was bringing those 985 toys to life by creating a giant Toy Castle! This year, our amazing staff, volunteers, and community partners from CAST (Caring and Serving Together) and Project Rebuild came together to transform all those toys into an impressive, towering display of generosity and holiday spirit.
Working side-by-side, we unbagged, sorted, and inventoried the toys before building the castle—making sure every gift would be boxed up and ready for its journey to Akron Children’s Hospital. The teamwork, laughter, and creativity that filled the room were just the beginning of what would become a heartwarming holiday experience.
Check out the second video to see how we turned piles of toys into a giant, festive display of hope and joy!
The Big Delivery: Bringing Christmas Joy to Akron Children’s Hospital
The final step of our 2025 Deck the Halls with Bingo Balls Adventure brought all the heart, teamwork, and community spirit together as we delivered 5,037 toys to Akron Children’s Hospital. Our dedicated staff and volunteers were joined by some of our incredible partners from The One Center for Leadership, whose hands-on support helped ensure a smooth and joyful delivery process.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Akron Children’s Hospital Volunteer Office for coordinating with us so seamlessly and welcoming this project with open arms. This year’s delivery was also made even more special thanks to the Active Duty Navy officers who stepped in to help unload and cart hundreds of toys up to the volunteer office—a true example of service, strength, and compassion in action.
Together, we didn’t just deliver toys—we delivered hope, comfort, and a little extra joy to children facing tough moments.
Media Spotlight & Meaningful Moments: Sharing Joy Directly With Children at Akron Children’s Hospital
The magic of our delivery day was made even brighter when News Channel 5 Cleveland joined us to capture the heart behind our mission. Their presence helped shine a light on the holiday magic ongoing with this year’s donation—sharing our story with families across Northeast Ohio.
One of the most meaningful parts of the day was the opportunity to deliver toys directly to three young patients at Akron Children’s Hospital. As a toy-donation based nonprofit, we don’t often get to place gifts into children’s hands to see the smiles for ourselves. Being able to witness their surprise, excitement, and reactions reminded all of us why this work matters so deeply.
This moment reaffirmed the impact that a single toy can have on a child facing something difficult—comfort, joy, and a spark of hope right when it’s needed most.
Experience the heartwarming moments captured by News Channel 5 Cleveland by watching their full story through the link below:
Keeping the Magic Alive All Year Long
Our Deck the Halls with Bingo Balls Adventure is more than an annual holiday event—it’s a reminder of what happens when we come together with purpose, compassion, and a heart to make a difference. From shopping aisles to castle walls to hospital hallways, every moment of this project was fueled by everyday individuals that believe children facing the toughest days deserve the chance to be just a kid amidst the challenge. As we look ahead to the year to come, we invite you to stay involved, spread the word, and help us reach even more children in hospitals, foster care, and other agencies aiding children who are facing difficult situations. Join us in making sure every child gets a moment of magic—because together, we can turn difficult seasons into brighter memories. Whether it’s by joining us for a night of community at bingo — or becoming a donor — or getting a group together to do a service project alongside of us — or becoming a volunteer — we welcome to opportunity to join forces in our mission to bring good to this world.
Comments