Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
The Christmas season is over, but it’s always a good time to give.
That’s the meaning behind the Jenna’s Toy Drive Lightshow happening this Saturday, Feb. 4 starting at 6 p.m. at 20 Rookery Row, Barnwell. Dentist Craig Wix has transformed his family’s home into a colorful display featuring nearly 19,000 lights that come to life with music.
“We are going to stick with lighthearted Disney music and contemporary praise and worship,” said Wix, who owns Palmetto Dentistry.
Hagood Avenue Baptist Church is bringing hot chocolate and their HIM interpretive movement group to perform. Wix also has two snow machines.
“We want all the kids to have a good time,” he said.
While the Wixes want the community to have a good time, they hope the community will be generous by donating new toys.
“The toy drive is the center of the whole thing,” said Wix.
Toys will go to the Children’s Hospital in Augusta, Ga. They especially need rattles for babies and Fischer Price learning toys for toddlers; however, toys for all ages and cash donations are welcome.
Brett Bodiford of Barnwell built a manger for people to place their toy donations. His daughter, the late Jenna Bodiford, is the inspiration for the light display and the toy drive. Jenna died from cancer in 2018 at the age of 14.
“Brett has been a good friend and Jenna was a patient,” said Wix. “She was someone who feared me (as a dentist), but then she went fearless during her cancer battle. I saw her transform into an inspiration who led others to Christ.”
Jenna’s legacy lives on through an annual toy drive hosted by former classmate Emma Hodge. The toy drive started in 2018 and continues to collect hundreds of toys annually. In 2020, the toy drive was a huge help for the hospital when many other toy drives did not happen due to COVID.
"Jenna loved people and Jenna loved God, and what Jenna has done through her story is empower young people like Emma to not only stand up for God but also to love others," said Brett Bodiford in a newspaper story after the 2018 toy drive.
Though toys from the Christmas 2022 toy drive have been collected and delivered to the hospital, this weekend’s event is one final opportunity for locals to donate. The Wixes have 100 synchronized light up bracelets to give to children who bring a toy.
Wix hopes the light show and toy drive will continue to grow in the future.
