WS Chronicle

Anita “Boss Lady” Dean-Arnette, the voice of The Light Christian radio station, has a saying: “Love isn’t love until you give it away,” and last week she bestowed that love upon more than 100 families during her 21st annual Toy Drive. 

Dean-Arnette said the toy drive began as a small event with only about five or six families, but every year since she started in 2000, the number of letters she receives from listeners seems to grow and this year was no exception. 

“We’re noticing that families are pulling together to make Christmas happen for their babies,” Dean-Arnette said. “We’ve received letters where several grandparents are the official guardians and caregivers for their grandchildren, and even siblings who have taken in their nieces and nephews due to medical illness that has restricted ability to properly care for children and in some instances, because the children’s parents are incarcerated.”

Letters started arriving before Thanksgiving and with donations from corporate sponsors, local churches, and loyal listeners, Boss Lady made sure all requests were met. 

“This is really a ministry and it has been since day one. All of this is because we saw a need in the community,” Dean-Arnette continued. “That’s just who I am. Everything I do is for the community and my boss gives me the leeway to help my babies.”

In addition to bags filled with gifts, 50 lucky children also received a brand new bike. According to Dean-Arnette, the bikes have been donated by an anonymous donor for the past eight years.

 “He pulled up with a trailer and he said, ‘I don’t want anyone to know who I am, I just want to help the babies,’ and that’s a blessing,” Dean-Arnette said.