For residents living east of the river, the holidays are a time of neighborhood togetherness, when community leaders and organizations come together to create gift giving events and holiday celebrations for under-resourced neighborhoods.

The events honor Chocolate City, D.C.’s moniker granted in the ’70s because it was the first major city in the country to be majority Black. Today, Wards 5, 7, and 8 are the only wards left in the city with a majority of Black residents.

This year, participants in holiday events got to enjoy virtual performances by legendary go-go bands Sugar Bear and EU and Junkyard Band. Toy drives gave kids early Christmas presents, but they also got free haircuts and hairstyles. Families won gift cards, took photos with Santa and Elmo, and got free clothing from popular local brands like The Museum and Never Black Down.

Here’s a glimpse at what those events looked like:

Go-Go Santa

This Go-Go Santa event had to pivot because of rising COVID infections in the area. Instead of a caravan of gift-givers and two go-go bands, organizers provided contact-less giving and a virtual concert featuring the go-go bands E.U. and Junkyard Band. Caravans fanned out across numerous neighborhoods in Ward 8, from noon to 3 pm on Sunday Dec 18 to distribute gift bags. According to organizer Monica Ray, in each gift bag there is a skully hat, toiletries, PPE, hand sanitizer, and educational literature.

A December To Remember On MLK

On Saturday December 18 at Check it Enterprises, participants got free haircuts. The event was sponsored by Bullying is Not Dope, Check-It, Never Black Down, No Slide Zone, and several others. Free toys for kids, food, community resources, yoga and other activities were provided.

Save Our Youth Christmas Toy Giveaway

Community organization Save our Youth held a toy giveaway at Kimball Elementary School in Ward 7 on December 10. The students from the school were led out to the driveway where organizers had set up tables with presents. Each student was allowed to pick one present. They had Santa, Mrs. Claus, Spiderman, and Cocomelon there to greet the students.

Hill Crest Holiday  Extravaganza

On Dec. 18, families and friends met at Hillcrest Recreation Center in Ward 7 for a “Holiday Extravaganza,” in partnership with the Chris Brown Foundation — an organization started by Artecka Brown, whose 17-year-old son Christopher Brown was shot and killed at a block party in 2020. Kids sat on Santa’s lap and decorated baked goods and ornaments, while volunteers collected coats outside the gymnasium.

Brown says she wanted to partner on the event as a way to give back to the neighbors and families that have supported her through the loss of her son.

“Right now, trying to heal with my son not being here, it saddens me,” says Brown. “But the same time is filled with joy, because I’m able to give back to our community, I’m able to bring joy to other families.”

‘In Honor of her Son’s Birthday’

Denise Price, middle, walks with her good friend, Tymice Jones, left, and her brother Jay Brown, as they take bags of homemade sandwiches, snacks, and waters to people experiencing homelessness underneath the I-395 overpass near the Navy Yard. Price, who lives in Ward 7 east of the Anacostia River, is the mother of Jeffrey Price, the motorcyclist who died after a collision with an MPD police car in 2018. Ms. Price and her friend, Jones, made one hundred sandwich bags in order to personally pass them out to people experiencing homelessness on her son’s birthday, December 13. Denise’s brother and Jeffrey Price’s uncle, Jay Brown, who is the founder of the organization Community Shoulders, helped with the food giveaway.

Martha’s Table Winter in Wonderland

On Saturday December 18, 2021, in partnership with Monumental Sports, volunteers and employees for Martha’s Table set up a winter in wonderland themed gift giveaway event. Families who’d pre-registered came to their Martha’s Outfitters location in Ward 8 to shop for free gifts for children.

This story was updated with the correct wards in the city that are still majority Black.