Hudson Rice doesn't really have all that much that he can call his own. His toys, his time, his efforts.

Himself.

What he does have, he's willing to give toward the fight against local homelessness. Hudson expects nothing for himself in return.

"We were in Chicago, and I saw homeless people for the first time," said Hudson, a fifth-grade student in the Conestoga Valley School District (CVSD). "I wanted to do something to help, so I asked my mom if we could do a toy sale. That was the only thing I had when I was 6 years old. I picked out some of my toys, and I asked my friends if they'd give some of their toys. In the second year, I gave all of my toys. Now, I don't have toys because of the toy sale."

The fifth edition of the inspiring Hudson's Toy Sale is right around the corner. This year's fundraiser for the homeless in Conestoga Valley will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Victory Church, 1827 Freedom Road, Lancaster. The vibrant, family-friendly event is free to attend.

"It's a fun atmosphere, with music and toys and friends coming together for the community," said Neal Rice, Hudson's dad. "The day itself is just a ton of fun. It's people enjoying themselves. That's the vibe we're going for, and that's what's been happening the last few years."

Hudson's Toy Sale will feature thousands of new or gently used donated toys for kids of all ages, everything from Legos, books, sports-themed toys and superhero figurines. The event will also include two food trucks; games; a silent auction; and kids' activities like a magic show, face painting, hair tinsel and photographs.

"My favorite part of it is the day of, for sure," said Hudson.

"There's a lot that goes into it," said Neal. "It's making sure we have partnerships and making sure we have really good items for the silent auction. We'll drop in on businesses and Hudson will talk to them, and when he does, the businesses are usually very generous."

Nearly 400 people are expected to attend, and the organizers of Hudson's Toy Sale are hoping to raise $25,000, proceeds that will be distributed to local nonprofits Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS), Conestoga Valley SEEDS and The Factory Ministries in Paradise. According to CVSD, 197 students were classified as homeless during the 2024-25 school year.

"It's a big issue, even though for most people, it's under the radar," said Neal. "In the Conestoga Valley community, in the motels along Route 30, there are people living night to night or living out of their cars. It's real, it's out there and people need help."

"We're really trying to broaden what we can do," continued Neal. "We're looking for organizations to partner with, and we want to keep it local. We started in the Conestoga Valley community, and Pequea Valley is right down the street."

"When I help homeless people, it makes me feel really good," said Hudson. "It was shocking to me when I first saw it."

Many of the toys for sale were donated by Hudson's classmates, friends, family members, community individuals, organizations and through local toy drives. One of the largest sources of donations came from a vacation Bible school at Keystone Church in Paradise.

Overseen by an advisory board, Hudson's Toy Sale benefits from the work of about 75 volunteers, 40 of whom serve on the day of the sale.

"There's something about a toy sale," said Neal. "It's just a unique event. It's intriguing to people, and I think that's what brings them out. But we're able to raise awareness about homelessness with the event."

Last year, Hudson's Toy Sale raised $24,600 for the fight against local homelessness, an increase of more than $10,000 from what it raised in 2023. The first event, in 2021, raised $2,000, and the sale raised $4,000 in 2022.

"I'm proud of my son for having the idea and sticking with it," said Neal. "I'm proud of our family and our community, who have rallied around it. We put an opportunity out there, and they responded."

"We want to keep making more and more and more money," said Hudson. "I'm very proud. It's the people who help and contribute."

For additional information, search for "Hudson's Toy Sale" on Facebook.