By AFRO Staff
The Steppin’ Out Bunch held its annual toy drive on Dec. 1 at Colin’s Seafood & Grill, located on the 1700 block of East Northern Parkway in Baltimore. The group of retired Black women educators, who formed the “Bunch” in 2009, demonstrated their enduring love for children as they sought to make Christmas wishes come true and collected toys to distribute to area children.
Laverne Holland (left), Pat Stokes, Regina Cook and Vernita Ford seem prepared to chow down. n(AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Victor Green (left) and Anderson Ward appear like twins in warm fall colors. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Verna Jackson (left), Nina Nash and Shirley Kane are a vision together in the bright red and green colors of a Christmas tree.(AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Jestine Brown (left), Roberta Peace and Cynthia Jordan are happy to support a good cause. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Laura Byrd, Afro-American Newspaper board member, is happy to support The Steppin’ Out Bunch, who have always been supportive of the newspaper. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Ronnie Johnson poses before the toy donations.(AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
AFRO Director of Community and Public Relations Diane Hocker (left), The Steppin’ Out Bunch President Mildred Harper and Miss Santa Donna Rice all exemplify the spirit of holiday giving. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Former state delegate Curt Anderson (left) and Reggie Thomas show their support for the cause. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Rachel Byers, of Delta Sigma Theta Baltimore County, poses before the toy donations. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Myrna Jackson-Cann (left), Freddi Vaughn, Reggie Thomas and Vanessa Pennington are all smiles as they fellowship together. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Jerri Stewart (left), Victor Green, Brenda Abrams, Yvonne Cook, George Taylor and Alice Taylor support the toy drive. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
AFRO Director of Community and Public Relations Diane Hocker (left) and Freddi Vaughn pause to capture the moment on film. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Dante Daniels, owner of Colin’s Seafood and Grill (left), welcomes Eunice Robinson to his establishment. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Miss Santa Donna Rice smiles as she stands before the toy donations. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Dante Daniels, who hosted the toy drive at his restaurant, is surely on the “nice list” of Miss Santa Donna Rice. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
The raffle winner is congratulated. Seen here: Scheherazade Forman (left), Eunice Robinson, Mildred Harper, raffle winner Margaret Selby, Miss Santa Donna Rice, Carol Carter and Reggie Thomas. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Margaret Selby, winner of the 50-50 raffle, is congratulated. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Carol Carter collects toys. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Betty Pettiford of Les Gemmes, Baltimore County, displays a donation from Mildred Harper. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Toy donations sit poised to spread joy to children in the area. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
The Executive Board of The Steppin’ Out Bunch include Barbara Banks (left), Scheherazade Forman, Mildred Harper, Reggie Thomas, Laura Byrd, Donna Rice, Carol Carter and Gladys Rice. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Patricia Gilliam offers a smile reflecting her holiday cheer. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Laura Byrd, Afro American Newspaper board member, and Clementine Watkins are happy to team up for a good cause.(AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Mildred Harper, president of The Steppin’ Out Bunch, and Miss Santa Donna Rice welcome donations from well-wishers. (AFRO Photos / James Fields) 
Charlotte Bullock, of The Society, Inc., Supporting The Arts, Baltimore County, displays a cash donation. (AFRO Photos / James Fields)