Ride on Cannon Foundation brings holiday gifts to over 250 kids through Christmas drive

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — More than 250 children in the Greater Richmond region received something on their wishlist and a handful of other gifts ahead of the holiday season -- courtesy of the Ride on Cannon Foundation.

The organization hosted its 6th annual "Helping for the Holidays" Christmas drive on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Manchester Moose Lodge in North Chesterfield.

Founder Teresa Welch said 2025 is the organization's biggest year yet, with more than 261 kids and over 116 families served.

The foundation has its own version of an "angel tree" -- which they call the "Cannon tree" -- where donors can pick up and grant a child's Christmas wish.

Per organizers, each of the participating children walked away from the Saturday drive with a set of holiday gifts, including:

• A new outfit
• A new pair of shoes
• New socks and underwear
• A hat and gloves
• A large toy from their wishlist
• Additional smaller wishlist items
• A stocking "filled with everything you'd find at the bottom of the toy box."

(William Berksteiner/8News)

(William Berksteiner/8News)

(William Berksteiner/8News)

(William Berksteiner/8News)

(William Berksteiner/8News)

(William Berksteiner/8News)

Welch said it was donations, community partnerships and the generosity of local businesses that made it happen.

"We're growing every year," she said. "The volunteers here -- we wouldn't have had this space, we wouldn't have gotten this done as quickly if it weren't for them."

The Ride on Cannon Foundation team started putting together a list of children in October. They put the word out on social media and partnered with social services organizations, local schools and social workers.

This year, Welch said her and the team's wish is a larger space for the organization.

"We're looking for a business that might have some space... we can reach more kids that way."