Re-Cember is coming back this December
This year's Re-Cember is dedicated to the memory of David Joseph Sr.
Here's what Re-Cember is, what happened last December, and what we're hoping for this year. We'd love your thoughts, and if you'd like to jump in now, you can do that here too.
What Re-Cember is
A December to Re-member. A Season to Re-Cember.
Re-Cember is a community movement rooted in the power of the prefix "Re-." To re- is to act with renewal: to rebuild, reconnect, restore, and re-imagine. It reminds us that true sustainability begins with people, when we return to what matters, give intentionally, and strengthen the bonds that hold our communities together.
From local businesses to faith groups and families, Re-Cember unites Toledo in a shared effort to transform the season of giving into a season of renewal. Each act of generosity becomes a spark of restoration, proof that when we come together, we don't just give again; we give better.
Each December, collection boxes go up at local businesses and churches. Donations come in from companies, congregations, and neighbors. Everything is gathered, sorted, and handed directly to families in time for Christmas. It is not complicated. It works because people say yes.
Who it serves: children and families in our own community. Neighbors. The people we pass every day and rarely see.
Last December
- We've been giving back every December since 2015 with Christmas giveaways and gift drives. Last year was the first time we did it this way, as Re-Cember, bringing the whole community together. We started planning in November 2025, and the community showed up fast.
- From December 1 to 19, businesses, churches, families and neighbors hosted collection boxes for new, unwrapped toys and gifts, and gave what they could.
- Together they gave about $7,000 in cash donations, plus many more donated gifts. The cash let us buy even more toys.
- On Saturday, December 20, we handed everything out at God's Instruments Outreach & Food Pantry, in the old Eastwood Theater on East Broadway, along with clothing and plenty of food from their pantry.
- Kids walked out with three or four gifts each.
- We had so much support that we had extra, and that's what "Re-" is about. For Re-Cember, "Re-" means human sustainability: we give back.
"The correlation of the amount of people that showed up and then the amount of toys and gifts truly showed us that God is with us and He made it perfect."Benjamin Tournoy, December 21, 2025
This year
This year's Re-Cember is dedicated to the memory of David Joseph Sr. of Joseph's Beverage Center. Behind the scenes, he was always part of things like this, and last year he was really inspired by Re-Cember but didn't get to take part as much as we knew he wanted to.
- Our goal is simple: help many, many more families than last year.
- We're hoping to hand everything out at God's Instruments again, likely the third week of December, with Santa Claus there and a Christmas scene on the stage. The date isn't set yet.
- We have about 70 collection boxes ready to drop off, and we can get more.
- Nothing is locked in, so your thoughts and ideas really help.
We made a short video
All three are the same video. Only the music is different. The picture is identical in each one, so you can just press play and listen. Which song do you like best?