Brown Deer families receive holiday surprise after violence vigil

BROWN DEER, Wis. - A Christmas miracle is how Brown Deer families are describing a gift giveaway on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, that showed up at their doorstep.

On Tuesday night, Milwaukee leaders, influencers and partners gathered in the Evolve Church parking lot for a vigil for those who lost their lives to violence in the city this year. It started with a remembrance of those who lost their lives from violence and ended as a reminder that there is still good in the city.

Community activist Vaun Mayes said it’s part of an 11-year tradition that begins as a tribute and ends in a triumph.

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"We want to honor those people that we lost," Mayes said. "Statistically we’re saying crime is down and different things like that – any loss of life is too many."

Once leaders left Evolve Church, they brought Christmas to Brown Deer.

"And then we want to put some smiles on people’s faces," Mayes said.

They packed up hundreds of gifts and toys and caravanned them to the aspen crossing and ridgewood apartments, where kids and parents came rushing out to get something for the holidays.

Trailers full of gifts as well as two U-Hauls made hundreds of families happy on Christmas Eve.

"For it being Christmas and everybody is giving out stuff and enjoying the music, man, it’s lovely,’ said parent Elijahwan Earl.

Folks said the night before Christmas was an unexpected miracle.

"It’s so many people out here who are not able to provide for their kids, and it’s just awesome to see all these kids walk away with something," parent Jackyha Collins said.

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Mayes said he never thought after 11 years of the violence vigil and gift giveaway that it would have this much of an impact. He and other partners say they want more people to join in and offer more resources for the public next year.